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inn Charactef^ '^ 

OF 

)N B. Plumb 



Maech19,1892 




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i ^-1 1 — I S"(<2. 



MEMORIAL ADDRRSSHS 



LIFE AND CHARACTER 



Preston B. Plumb. 

(A SENATOR FROM KANSAS), 



DELIVERED IN THE 



SENATB AND HOUSI: OF RI-PRESENTATIVES, 

February 20 and March 19, 1892. 



Prepared in accordance with joint resolution of Congress, and under direction 
of the Joint Committee on Printing, 

\V. H. MICHAEL, 

CLERK UK I'RINTIN.; RKCKD^, UNITKI. STATES SENATE. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT I'RINTIN.: OFFICE. 
I S92. 






THE DEATH OF SENATOR PLUMB. 



SERVICES IN THE SEXATE CHAMBER. 

Decembei- 21, the ITnitvd .States SiMiate. tlie House of Rc])re- 
sentatives, the Executive and Judiciary Uepartmcuts of tlie 
Govenimeiit, representatives of foreifjii powers, and thousands 
from anioni;' the Washin<;ton i)nl)lic paid the hist tribute of 
affection and respect to the lueniory of the dead Senator. 

The body was [ilaced in a handsome ch)th-covered casket of 
cedar, on the lid of which was a pLiin silver plate bearing the 
following' inscrijitiou: "Preston B. I'lumb, born October 12, 
1837: died Decemljcr liO, 18!tl." 

At 1(1 o'clock the casket was borne from the lionse to the 
hearse by eight of the Capitol jiolice, under direction of Assist- 
ant Sergeant-at-Arnis ]Merritt. 

Immediately the small funeral cortege, consisting of the 
hearse, drawn by two coal black horses caparisoned with 
heavy robes of bhuk netting, and a few caniages containing 
immediate friends, started towards the Capitol. There were 
no Horal decorations at the house, and, save a small wieath of 
wiiite immortelles on the top of the casket, sent by the chief 
clerk of the Treasury I>e]iartnjeut, there was nothing to relieve 
the somber blackness of the casket. 

Tiie small procession moved slowly down Fourteenth street 
to Pennsylvania avenue and wended its way up througli the 
Capitol grounds to the Capitol. At the entrance to the build- 
ing the remains were met by Sergeant-at-Arms Valentine, who 

3 



4 Li/i- and L'/iiVtu/tr of Prcsfoii />. Pliivib. 

cscorti'il tlii'iii to the inaibk' looiii in the rear of tlio Si-uate 
chaiiilK 1 and only a slidit ilistaiiri' from the A'ii-e- President's 
ihair. There tht y wen- phieed on a bhiek catafalque in the 
eeut«'r of the room. 

Soon alter the easket was dejiosited in the marble room a 
laijie nninl)cr of persons {rathered amund the <lo(>rs at the 
entrance anxious tn take a last look at the features of the 
departed. 

When the Senate met at noon the chamber was ]iartly ar 
ranged for the oliscfpiies. Tlie desk and chair of the deceased 
Senator were lMa\ily drajxil. The fialleries were crowded 
with sjiectators. except the diplomatic and the \'icePresident"s 
{ralleries. which were reserved. 

In the opeiiinjr i)rayer Kev. .1. (l. Hurler, the chaiilain, re- 
ferred in a feeling; manner tn the death of Senator l'i,f:MH. 
"SaiM'tilied.'" he said, "he this last bereavement. Teach us 
heavenly wisdom; hear us when we commend to Thee, very 
tenderly. Thy handmaiden in her solitude and sadness and 
overwhelming sorrow in her distant hduie. Ue pray that 
Thou wilt sustain ami comlbrt her in Thy jx-ace." 

On motion of Mr. MandeisDn the reading of the .loiirnal was 
dispensed with, and Mr. I'etfei- rose t<> make the formal an- 
nouncement of Mr. PLf^B's death and to olfer proper reso- 
lutions, lie said: 

"Mr. I'KKSiDENT: I esteem myself jieculiarly unfortunate in 
tiiat. before I have been a member of this body long enough 
to have become familiar with even the dimensions of the chain 
ber in which we sit. I am railed n|)on to announce the death 
of my distinguished colleague, ni)oii wlio>e wonderful resources 
1 had expected largely to rely. 

"Phk.ston 15. Pi.fMii. a Senator from Kansas, dieii In tliis 
city yesterday at ten minutes bet'ore X'l o'clock. This is not 
the time nor the occasion to sjK'ak at length of t lie lite and the 



Funeral Crrciuoiiics in the Senate Chamber. 5 

])al)lic .st'i-\ices uf the iihscilt Soiiator. 'I'lu^ il:irU dr;ii>ciy 
about the seat lie so Inm;- ()ccui)ic(l liircihiy iciiiiiids liis t'cllow- 
iiiciiibcrs that tlicy have lost one ul' ihcir most act i\i' ami iii- 
ilnstiious -workers. I lis cxiiciicmM', liis prarl ical way oCdoiiit;- 
thiiii^'s, liis sa.u'ai'ity and his .^rcat jjowcrs of ciidiiraiici', his 
coiistaiicy and faithfulin'ss on duty and his alertness in action 
made his a (■oiisi)icuous lin'ure among the stroni;- men of I lie 
nation, lint there arc others who I'eel tiiis l)erea\enient more 
keenly than we, upon wiiom the blow has fallen with ciushinj^ 
weight. There is a home, where this man was known as the 
world knows him not; a place where hearts are lacerated and 
blecilini;: where a loving family will be glad. c\cn in their 
grief, to receive at our hands what is lelt ot' the fond husliand 
and father in whose life theirs was closely bound. To them, 
at least, there are two sonrees of consolation, one that he fell 
while on duty at his ]iost in the service ot his country, the 
other that there is a fountain of strength, infinite in power 
and duration, from which we may all draw in time of need. 
At the proper time I will ask the Senate to imme a time when 
we may i)ay tril)ute to our deceased brother in an apiiropriatc^ 
manner; and now, ^Ir. President, 1 offer the followinj;- reso- 
lutions: 

'^h't'Sdlreil, That the sudden death of Hon. 1'keston I!. 
Pn'MB causes ]ii()found sorrow and deep regret to his asso- 
ciates iu the Senate. 

'^Resoli't'd, That a eonimittee of five Senator.s be ajipointed 
by the Vice-President to talce order with a committee of the 
House of Eepresentatives for superintending the funeral of 
the late Senator Plumb : and as a mark of respect for his 
memory that his boily be removed from the ea[)ital to the 
State of Kansas iu ehar.uc of the Sergeant-at-Arms and at- 
tend(Hl by said comnuttee, w hich shall have full power to carry 
the res(jlution into efi'eet. 



6 /-/a niiii Cfiarac/rr of I'rcsto)i />. P/ii»ib. 

■■h'cxiilidl. Tliat the .Senate will. :it 1 :.">ii to das . aliriid in ils 
••liaml>er tlic I'xercises iiK'ideni tn liis fuiu'ial, ami iliat tlu-sc 
resi)luliiiiis Ix- roimimiiicaicil to I In- 1 haisc ol' Kejireseiitatives." 

Tlic resi)liitiniis were a^^reed to iiiiaiiiLuiiiisly, and tlir Vife- 
I'lfsideur annoum-ed as the i-cmiiiiittec im tlii' jiarl nf tlie .Sen- 
ate Messrs. I'l-tler. Diilpli. I'addm 1^, Kaii^diii, and I'alnier. 

Till- Senate then, on motion ol Mr. Slieiniaii, took a reee.s.s 
till 1 ]). m. 

Shortly before I o'cloiU the Cabinet ollicers and as.si.stant see- 
retariesol'tlie Kxeentive Depaitinentsbefian to arrive and were 
shown to tlie I'resideiifs room. .\m<jnj; them were .Secretary 
Blaine. Seeretary Kusk. .V-.sistant Secretary of War Grant, 
Soli<-itoi-(Teneral Taft, and Assistant Secretaries of the Treas- 
nry Spanldinji and Xettleton. The President, aceomiianii'cl 
liy I'rivate Secretary IIalfo)d, arrived a few miinites jiast 1 
and joined the others in the President's I'oom. Mrs. Harrison, 
escorted by Lieut. Parker, of tlie Navy. oecn))ied a seat in tlie 
reserved j;allery. 

At 1 :!.'(> ('apt. liassett. the l)oorkce](er. aiuioimeed tlie 
Sjieaker and membersof the House. The Speaker was escorted 
by Serjieaiit-atAiins ^'alentine to the seat on the right of the 
\'ice rresident and the members tiled in and took seats 
assigned to them on the Denioeiatic sidi'of the eliaiiil)ei-. The 
nuniber inchided many of the older members ot tlie House who 
had known .Senator I'i.i'MH for years. Five iiiiuiites attei'- 
wanls the members of the Diiilomatie Corjis — .some twenty-live 
in number — not wearing their ollicial uniforms, arrived and 
were sliown their seats in front of tlie niiinlieiN df ihe House. 
They were followeil by the < 'liief .) nstice and .Inslices of the 
Siii>remc ( 'oiirt. who took scats in front of the Diplomatic (J(Ui)s. 
At exactly half-iiast 1 Capt. Hassett announced the presence of 
Ilie I'residi'iit ot' the Cnited Slatesand his Cabinet. 

The .Senators and spectators stood n|> to do them honor (as 



Funeral Ceremonies in Ihe Senate Chamber. 7 

tlicy l.i.d (i.m.'also in tlic , .as,. „(tlu. Diplomatic. Corps jiiMl oftli.. 
SupreHU. Court). l',c.si,l,.,.t Ilanisou an.l tl.c men.l...rs of the 
Cabinet were sliowu to the arm ,i,aiis on the ri-ht ..f tlie 
area, President Harrison jieaivsf tii.. .-..nlnil aislr ;,„.! Mr. 
Blaine next to liini. 

At 1:40 the official eomniittee. escortin- the body of the 
d.'a.l .S,.nator, appeared at tl,.. main entraiiee, aiid while 
all in tlie elianiber aro.se the procession movd up ( h.. aisle, 
the Chaplain reciting the opening sentenc's of f he fiuuMal sei-v- 
ice: "-lam the resurrection and the life,' saitli the Lord."' 
The casket, borne by Capit-.l poHce, was deposited on the 
catafalque in front of the Clerk's desk. 

The floral decorations consisted of a sheaf of jmlnis and a 
large bunch of orchids sent by Senator Quay, a wreath of white 
carnations and roses from the Loyal Legion of Washington 
City, a pill.nv of ivy leaves with the corners .lecorated with 
violets and rcses, sent by the Senator's friends h.-re. Restin- 
on the lid of the casket was a wreath of white immortelles 
from Chief Clerk Fred A. Stocks, of tin- Trea-sury Department. 
The Chaplain linished tr.mi th.^ Clerk's desk tlie leading of 
the funeral service and appropriate selections from the Scrip- 
tures, closing with the re.'itation of the poem: 

oil. t.i ).,■ ivady whcu death shall vrnnv; 
Oil. to hr r.-aay I,, ha.stri] h.iiiic. 

Then he .lo.sed with a prayer, in which la- offered thanks for a 
a ri.sen Saviour, for a reigning Lor.l, and for a Kingdom that 
shall survive .leath. The strong and noble man had fallen, but 
he had left the record of a useful life. 

Wlien the prayer was concluded the Vic.'-Presideut rose and 
said: '• The Sergeant-at- Anns, under the direction of the com- 
mittee, will execute the order of the Senate and escort the 
remains of the late Senator Pltoii! t.. his home in Kansas." 



8 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 

Then, with the whole assciiibl;i;;e standinji in re.si)ei-t for the 
dei-easetl, the i)r()cessi()ii was icfoniieil and tlie body of the 
dea<l Senator was l)orne out to l>e talcen to the raih'oad station. 

rill- Imdy, incccded by the Congressional cuiiiinittee. was 
then caiiieil tlinmnh the corridors to the east front of the 
("apitoi. and thence (lown the many steps of the marble stairway 
to the hearse. 

I'dlldwiiij;- the remains came the Senators and Uepresenta- 
lives, who formed by twos, with \'ice-l'resident Morton at the 
head, and accompanied the body on foot to the station. 

The ['resident and his Oabinet and other distinjinished per- 
sons were ushered td Ilicir carriages and joined the procession. 

The march to the station oecui)ied a little less than half 
an hour. The route was through tlie ('ai)itol grounds, renn- 
sylvania aveinie, and Sixth street tothe Pennsylvania llailroad 
station. Crowds of |ieoplc [lassinj; on the Avenue stop])ed to 
view tlie proccssiiin. .\rriving at the station, the members of 
the Senate and many other friends of the dead .Senator went 
inside ami rangetl themselves in two lines along the side of the 
car in which the body was to be placed. The casket, ])receded 
by the Congressional ciiMniiittcc, was then ci>n\ eyed In the cai-. 
The Congressional committee had a special lai- for their use 
during the trip. The nanu's of the Senate Committee have 
been given previonsiy. Tlii' House Committee consisted of 
Messrs. Broderick ami l''nnston, of ivansas; Caie and I'ccl, ol' 
.\rkan.sas; Voumans, of Michigan: Post, of Illinois, and Cogs- 
well, of Massachusetts. The two cars wert' attached to the 
("olunibian e.vpress train, which left the city at 3:L'5 o'clock. 



Editorial Ao/ias. 



KDITOKIAL NOTICES ON SKNATOR PLUM1!\S DKATU. 



PKUTAININli TO TIIK SKNATOU'S DEATTl. 

; lOxtriM-la Irom thi- F.iii|.ciri;i ( Kaii.i ) ll^iily Kciiiil>lic'Mii. ] 

Of ;ill tilt' nifii lidldiiig ;i toiciiiust i)l;ife in |ml)lic life iu 
ISltl, few seemed less likidy tn simhi lease tliis life than Pres- 
ton B. PlUMI?, the senidi- Senator friini Kansas. Gons(iicu- 
oiisly poweifnl in appearauce and in all his methods of work 
aud aetion he seemed certain to siu\ive all assaults save those 
of the ultimate years of man's allotted time. The announee- 
nient of his siiddt-n death, therefore, came to the conntry as a 
terrible shock. The news seemed incredible, anil wonderment 
f;ave way only after a fall explanation. The wonder then be- 
came that he had so lon,n survi\ed. It developed that, as a direct 
result of his extraordinary labors, liis uuetpialed api)lication 
to public and ]iri\ate duties, he had suffered an impairment 
of the nervous system to such au extent as to bring him direct 
warniugs of the end. F(jr some time he had occasionally suf- 
fered a partial or complete temporary ]>rostration of the gov- 
erning forces of the body, and those nearest him had warned 
liiiri freiiuently of his danger. The fall campaigu iu Kansas 
in l.s'.il drew from the Senator a remarkable series of addresses 
delivered at a great exjieuse of time and strength in all parts 
of the State. Following the campaign he niade a liuiried trij) 
to -Abmtana and then returned t(i Washington to resume his 
legislative labms. What he did in the first weeks of the session 
indicated clearly that he had outlined for himself an unusually 
arduous year's work. Nearly all his former colleagues in Kan- 
sas had failed of rei'lection and his duties were, therefore, many 



10 Life and Characlcr of Preston B. Plumb. 

times iiiulti|>lie(l l»y reason of the iiii'xi)erii*iK'<' oC his new as- 
sociates. With danntless couiaye he entered on the new leg- 
ishitive striijr*(le. But hr eouhl not igfiiore the ihiTiger sijrnals 
wliicli caiiic lii liini. Ilr cuiii-ludcil to t;iki- i-niinsi-l <i|' |i|i\si- 
tiaiis in l'hihi(leli)hia and went to tliat <ity (or that puriiose. 
Dr. Pepper ail vised iininediate and absohite rest and a<-centu- 
ateil his advice in the stronjrest ])ossil)le inaTiner. The Sen 
alor ri'tiniiecl to ^\ ashin^ton dctcrniiiu il to tdllow I )r. I'epjjer's 
ilireetious. His mind was I'ldly nia(h' up to taiie rest, rejjard- 
less of the counth'ss detnands on him. Ketmniii^- from I'hil- 
adeli)liia he reached W:ishin.i;toii at about 7 o'clock in the even 
in^' of Saturday, the l!itli da\ ol' December, 1 SOI . ITavinjr had 
no dinner lie left his lodfjin<rs and went to Ohanilieijin",-. lioiel 
for a lunch. There he met several ^eutlemen with whom he 
chatted jtleasantly until al'ter midnight. His friends of the 
eveninj^ remembered afterwards an unusual shade of repressed 
midanrlioly in his rcniaiks and iiis demeanor. thou;nh his con 
versatiou was as interesting; as ever. The Senator left his 
friends, returned t^) his rooms, and, alter writinf;a few lines to 
his i)rivate secretary, retired. At about 2 o'clock of Sunday 
morniuf;- (Decendjcr L'd) the Senatoi- calleil M i . .leiiniii--. tlic 
l)ropriet(jr rjf the house in which his rooms were, at No. (ill' 
Fourteenth street, andaskeil him to summon a ](hysician, as he 
was suHcriu'; from intense jtain in his head. Di-. Philip Wales 
soon arrived and administered. l>y hypnijerniic injeciion. a 
l)owerful sedative, fiom the elfecls of wiijch tin- snlleier fell 
into a deej) slec]). He continued unconscious until hall'iiast 
(i o'clock in the nu)rninj;-, when he s]u-an;Lt I'rom his l>ed with a 
violent nausea. When this had ceased the Senator \i\\\ his 
hands to his head, as if in excrnciat iiii; |iaiii. and cxrlaimi'd, 
"Oh. my (lodi my head I my head I" These were his last words. 
lie soon lost consciousness. slee]iin}i attain heavily. Latei 
in the mornin;; .Air. J5. !■'. Flenniken, the Senator's secretary, 



Editorial Xoticcs. 11 

arrived iuid lit oiH-c Iclf i^roat alniiii. lie s<'nt again for Dr. 
Wales, who ijroiioniiced tlie case oin' (it apoplexy. At 10 min- 
utes (if iL' (Tcldclv tlic Scnatdr (lie(l. 

There were present iit the luonient nf death Mr. Flenuiken, 
Dr. Wales, and .Air. .levinings. Instantly the sad news spread 
(iver tile eit.v and alnidst as (juickly it went to all parts 
(if the conntry as a telei;rapliic bulletin and by private mes- 
sages. Tile modest a]iartnieuts where tlie dead Senator lay 
were immediately \isited liy thousands of interested citizens. 
Among the tirst to arrive was Mr. Secretary IJusli, wliose un- 
restrained expi'essions of love and admiration for the dead 
Senator and grief at his untimely death were most toueliingly 
eloquent. Many Senators, ('al)inet oflicers, and other ofticials 
and tinally the President called to express their sorrowful 
surprise. 

The immediate members of the bereaved family though 
far apart were soon reached. Mrs. Phnnli and her eldest 
daughter were at home in Emporia. Mr. Amos H. Plumb, the 
eldest son, was in Philadelphia. Miss Ruth Plumb was in 
Topeka and tlie young son and daughter, Preston Morrill 
Plumb and Caroline Plumb, were at their respective schools 
in Pennsylvania. jMrs. Plumb and ]\Ir. Amos Plumb were in 
])oor health, 3Irs. Plumb having that day attended church for 
the tirst time in months. All absent meudiers of the famil.\" 
were able to start for home at once and did so. 



THE WORDS OF A STANCH FRIEND. 

[finn, l-'raiik Hiitton, in the \\':isliiitgt..n Post ] 

In the deatli of Preston B. Pumi! the country loses an emi- 
nent and patriotic citizen, the Reiiuliiicau party one of its earli- 
est, ablest, and most consistent leaders, tlie rnited States Sen- 



12 Life (UkJ Cltaractcr of JWstoii B. Plumb. 

ati' an iMinest and courafieous statesman. To the State of Kau 
sas the sudden close of his lioiioralih- and useful life, so eou- 
sjiicuously marked by a faithful devotion to the interests of 
his constituents, will he a calamity indeed. To the host of 
friends whom the Senator had ;;athered about him his decease 
will he an irreparable loss, for these best knew the inner depths 
anil true nobility of his charactei-. lie was as true to his sense 
of |iersonal honor as he was to his sense of public duty, and in 
lioih resjiccts he was irreproachable. 

Mr. Plimu took his seat in the Senate in 1877 and rapidly 
rose to distinction ill legislation and debate. There he found 
a tlieater worthy of his imwers, and no member of tliat auyu.st 
body ever consecrated iiiniself to its duties with a more con- 
scientious .spirit or ac(iuitted himself of their performance with 
more constant and sterling- fidelity. 

The decea.sed Senator was a man of prouonnced convictions 
on all fii-eat questions, political or otherwise, and he was as 
fearless in their utterance as he was sincere in their entertain 
ment. If not a gifted orator in the ordinary sense of the term, 
he was endowed wilii that greatest of all oratorical gifts, the 
power of commanding the attention of his hearers whenever he 
sjioke and imi)ressing his views clearly aiul durably uiion the 
liiiiilic intelligence. Wlan he arose to address the Senate the 
country listened. 

It was the rugged honesty of Jlr. Plumb, coupled with his 
admitted knowledge of affairs, that gave weight to liis judg- 
ment and exacted the respect of his oi)i>onents. He was a 
hater of cant in all its forms, lie had no use for shams of any 
sort. In the lexicon of his true and manly nature there was 
no such word as liypo<-ri.sy. As a Senator of the ridted States 
he based his action ui)on the same ingenuous and upright 
lirinciples as those liy u liiili he governed his rondint as an 
untitled citizen, lie was not a man of [lolicies and expedients, 



luiili'rial Xotices. 13 

(il'coriiinoiiiisfs or conccjilinciits, citlicrns Icyishitur or politi- 

T'- ■;jfu:itiir will lir nMiiciiibcicd loiii; :iml i;r;itctiilly li.\- flif 
ritizciis i)f the I )istri(t "f Ciiluiiihia lor Iris disiiiten'stcd iiiid 
«'iierg'eti<- labors in hclialf of tlii' welfare and progress of tlie 
National Capital. As a mendiei' of llie Ap]iro])riations (Joni- 
jnittee and eliairnian of the suhconLHiittee on District ajipro- 
priatious he had rendered efticieut service, and his recent ap- 
pointment as a member of the new District comnuttee oj the 
Senate was a subject of general conuratnlation. 

Mr. Pli'MB was a hard worker in and ont of the Senate. 
IS'o resp(msibility devolved n])on him to be neglected or unful- 
filled. No demand upon his time or services which he knew to 
he legitimate in itself was ever ignored. It is not too nnich to 
say that his imblie life was a life of laborious self-sacritice in be- 
half of others. It was this constant strain in the line of du- 
tiful endeavor that gradually undermined his strength and at 
last precipitated the crisis that sooner or later nnist overtake 
all men who, in the jilenitude of a generous and andiitious 
zeal, make similar drafts niton their mental and jihysical 
jtowers. 

Plain and unpretentious of manner, abounding in human 
sympathies, a lo\-er of his kind and a lo\-ei-of Ins country, Mr. y 
Plumb was essentially a man of the people. Yet the arts of/ 
the demagogue he held in thorough contemi)t. He was a rep- 
resentative American citizen, with exalted ideas of the obliga- 
tions which citizcnshiji impo.ses; he was a statesman to be 
trusted in any emergency; he was unfaltering in his loyalty 
to Republican principles; he was firm to faultlessness in his \ 
frieiulships; he stood s<iuarely upon his merits as a man in all 
the relations of life, and he died lea\ing a worthy example, a 
fadeless memory, and a name without a blemish. ; 



14 Li/c and Lhaiaclcr of Preston B. Plumb. 



KA>iSAS AND IHK NATION STKK'KF.N. 

It^liturial in tht- Kuunuh f'ity Joiiruul.j 

Siiici- Lincoln fell no (h-atli lias evt-r broUifliT smli f^rief U) 
Kansas as that of I'uKSTON ]>. I'Li'MB, her senior Senator. 

Tlie death ot' James H. Lane was a shock to Ms many 
ardent personal adlierents. Init liis countless hitter enemies 
could not mourn. 

The death of President (larlichi drew liea\ ily on the .sym- 
patliie.s of every citizen, 1 lilt tlie lo.ss did not (piite come as a 
]iersonal one. 

Tlie death of (leneral (Irant bowed tlie heads of thousands 
of his fbrnier coin])anioiis of cani]> and field, but his work had 
been rounded to a i)erfect close. 

Others have ]>assed away who were lo\cd or esteemed by 
Kansans for some near relation of a social, commercial, or polit- 
ical nature, but the loss has touched the few rather than the 
many. l>y the death of Senator I'l.l'MB scarcely a citizen 
of the entire State will led oilierwise than as personally' be- 
reaved. He has left no citizen untouched, singly or in classe.s. 
He j;ave liis liaiid to every man and said to him: '• 1 am your 
servatit ; tell me what I shall do; tell nie ])articularly what 1 
sliall ilo fiii- you." 

He liad strug<;led with jirivation anil poverty; therefore he 
knew the hearts of his fellows. He had braved all the hard- 
.ships of frontier life: therefore he knew how his State had 
been made, and lie for;;ot no jiart ot' the recoid oi- no indi 
\idiial of the many who were with liiiii in that iiiinioralile 
makinj;. He had been a worker at the crat't of his <-hoice, a 
printer, dependent on his toil tor a livinj,'; therefore he knew 
tlie needs of all those of like situation. He had toiled at the 
treadmill of the press: therefore he knew how the pi-ople learn 



liditorial Xoticcs. 16 

arid liow Ilicy shmilil In- tiiii.ulit. He had tiiuiiipiicd in the 
liractic-cdf tlic law ; tlicicloic lie knew (it' all the iiniiifasiiial)l(' 
stresses wliieli are iml on iiirii wiio take the liazard «if eoin- 
luercTal fortunes, lie had luen clcisc to the eiiebauted rralnis 
of wealtli iir within them, and he kiirw how miieli and Ikiw 
little toeall them yddd: and. tinally. h«- had borne the (aiishiui;- 
burdens of the peojile in his work as their represcntatiNc in the 
liijihest deliberative body of the woild. 

Vear in and \ear out he had tlun.i;' himself into his work 
with an energy almost uniiaralleled. lie tlinehetl from no un- 
dertaking, ho\\e\er arduous, and never asked for rest or rec- 
reation. It might have been better if he had. Heassaih^l all 
public (piestions with an imiietuoiis jiower almost aniountiug 
to fury. .V task undone to him was an irritation and a <-hal- 
lenge. 

Xo wish of a constituent was counted as a tritlc To grind 
every grist aud grind it tine was bis habit. 

This Avas the man in outline at all times. Who can fully 
api>reciate what he became in the ])ast year, when all his asso- 
ciates but one had been retired and their work had t'ome to 
him? In him centered the hopes of hundreds of thousands, 
and u|) to him led the lines of thought of all his active and 
intelligeut constituents, and this not alone of the State. The 
nation had cona^ to consider him its own, and uo comnuinity 
in the whole laud will be without sadness at his demise. 

Kansas will have the sympathy of her sister States. Her 
chamiiiou is g<ine, and no other can tidly take his jilace. The 
times that bred him will uever be rejieated. The founding of 
the State will not be done twice. What has been has been, 
and time has set its seal. 

Preston B. Ph'jib has driven his name into the living 
rock which underlies his beloved Kansas, and theic it will be 
read so long as lier people kuow history. 



IG Life and Cliaractir of Preston B. Plumb. 



WIIV ALL KANSAS IS IN SOKKOW. 

I Kililtirial in Knnsas Slalf •luunml. T4i]>oka.| 

Deatli liiis struck its most savage blow at Kansas, as if in 
venjicance. Senator Plcmb is dead. At the very hour when 
the needs of the State were sn])erlative and when his equi]! 
iiient was most eoiniiiete. lie is strifkcn dnwn at liis post of 
duty. The hflp that he was .so able and .so willing to give 
can not come ti> us. The bounty he was so eager to add to 
that alieady given his beloved ])C()|)lc can not now be ours. 
His long years of usefulness, filled with every form of gener- 
ous action, have conic to an fiid and there is uo consolation. 

\\'c are bereaved indeed. He was the peoi)le's servant, 
but he was a fatherly servant. He served because lie loved. 
Kansas was close to Lis heart. From the poorest wild flowers 
of the remotest prairi(> to the iliiuliin;; dome of tlieeapilol the 
State he heliied to found was his prith- and his joy. Himself 
a large part of tlu; Titanic struggle for the planting of free- 
dom on this soil, he had come down the subsequent years of 
our liist<ir\ hand in hand with (uii |ii()S]ierity. soundiiig our 
virtues, concealing our lauHs. lighting our l)altles, and rejoicing 
with our Joys. 

His clear vision, aided by liie lamji uf exiierieiice, which 
burned so brilliantly fur liim. saw far alicad tlie cdUise nf the 
ship of state aud his stead.\ iiand set the rudder right. 

He was a jilain man. a man of the ]>eoph'. N\"ithout arro 
gance. he vaunted not himself. I'iie inon- \\'\> [lower giew tlie 
more he seemed to feel that it wa-- nf tlie jif'oide and Ibi the 
l)eople. He never jiosed as the autinn ot his (jwn greatness 
and never demanded homage in return Ibr his gnod deeds. He 
kejit no books with his fellow citizens. lie did not set down 
either charges against others or credit- Ibi him.-ell. He fell the 



Edit IV ill I Notices. 17 

swift rush of the ciuTent of life and knew there was no time ex- 
cept for doing good. He did not suthcientlv know the limit set 
on human strength and human endca\-or, so swift was he and so 
jKiwerfnl in the race of life. There seemed to lie notliing he 
eould not do and litth' that lie left undone, except to care for 
his own health. His friends no doubt shared his own tiiouglit- 
lessness as to his reserves of vitality and drew on him too 
heavily. Though many of them s]iokc to liim at one tinu- or 
another of his overwhelming burdens it was more to express 
surprise at his ]iower than fear for his safety. 

And so he went on to the end. Doing for all, caring for all, 
his mind full of liis jteople — of both State and nation — lie w(ne 
himself out and fell at is jiost. Kansas Avill not know his like 
again and will not forget him while her historv lasts. 



OUR GREAT LOSS. 

[Hon. ('. V. Eakriili;.'. in Enipuria K.')iublican.] 

The announcement of the sudden and totally unexpected 
death of our senior United States Senator comes as a shock and 
a blow to Kansas. The entire nation will be grieved as well 
as startled at the sad intelligence, hut in Kansas the feeling 
is one of ]iersonal liereavemcnt and inexpressible sorrow. 

No other public official of the State hehl so high a place 
in the affections of all the people. Xo other official was so 
generally useful or so nearly indispensable. Years of patient, 
faithful, selfsaeriflcing service had gained for him the confi- 
dence and the gratitude of citizens 6f every county and town- 
ship. Men who radically differed from him ]..ilitically esteemed 
and admired him personally. In season and out of season he 
labored for the good of the peojile he re])reseiited, and his great 
public services were universally recognized and appreciated. 

S. Mis. 228 -1 



18 Life and Character of Preslon B. Plumb. 

His repiitatiou luul couie to be national, ami Lis iiaiiu' was 
tmineiitly im-ntioiied in connection witli the liijcUest ofliee in 
the tcift of the Aineriean people. The thoroufihgoiuK- business 
liabits which he tuok \\ ilh liiin inloortii'ial lile ina(h' him a most 
useful man in tlie Senate anil gave him a standing; amonj; his 
roUeagues whiiih few occui)ied. It was generally conceded 
that when Pli'MH had sifted any practical subject he had got 
all then- was in it, and liis statements of fact were seldom 
(juestioned. While others studied rhetoricals and attitudes, 
he plodded thnmgh figures and departmental reports and got 
at the groundwork and substance of national problems. His 
reputation was that of a business Senator; and never was a 
reputation more faitlifully won or better deser\ cd. 

In his home town and county. Senator ri.iMi! was known 
as a i)ublicspirit<'d citizen and kind neighbor. He always met 
the most humbleof his fellow citizens with a genial familiarity 
thai made them feel he was one among tlicm and could lie ap- 
proached without ceremony or endtarrassmcnt. As midti- 
tudinous as were the denmiuls made upon his time, lie never 
ignored the request of any constituent or failed to do what he 
rea.sonably could to liavc the reciuest grantc<l. Oilicial duties 
took him from home most of the time, but he was always in- 
terested in home alfairs and seldom if ever refused to contrib- 
ute to home charities ami public enteri)rises. His afHicted 
and stricken family will have all the heartfelt symjiatliy which 
• a sorrowing peojde can bestow. The loss falls deeply ui)on the 
' nation, the State, the county, and the town, but to the family 
it is crushing and irreparable. 

lion. I'UESTo.x H. I'LV'MH was born in Delaware t'cmnty, 
Ohio, October 12,1837. He resided in Ohio until 1.S50 and 
received his early education in the common schools t)f that 
State. He came to Kansas in June, ISofi, locating, in the fall 
of that vear, in Saline County. The winter of is.'.d-".")? lie 



Editorial Notices. 19 

8i)oiit ill Liiwreiicc and in .March, IS.")7, located in I';nij)()iia. 
He was one of tiic original town company. He liad been hied 
as a printer and educated as a Jonrnalist, and established The 
News, the first imniber being issued June 6, 1857. His (-on- 
nection with the paper continued until IStiL'. He was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1801 and commenced the practice of law. 
In 1S02 lie reiMuited two companies for the Eleventh Kansas 
regiment and was mustered into service as second lieutenant 
August 12, 18C2. He was successively ivromoted to captain, 
to major, and to lieutenant-colonel, and was mustered out at 
Fort Leavenworth September 30, ISOo. He returned to Em- 
poria and resumed the practice of law. He was elected to the 
State Legislature in 18G(« and rei^lected in 18(>7. In the fall 
of 1867 he formed a law partnership with Judge Euggles, 
under the (inn name of Euggles & Plumli, and continued the 
practice of law irntil the dissolution of the partnershii) in 1872. 
He subsequently engaged in manufacturing and coal-mining 
at Osage. In January, I87;), he was elected jiresident of the 
Emporia National liank. He was elected to the United States 
Senate in February, 1877, and reelected in 188;{. In 188'.l he 
was rei'lected for a third term, j)ractically without ojipositioii, 
he being in Washington at the time. He had still four years 
of unexyiired term to serve at the time of his di'ath. For the 
houoraVile career of Senator PuniB as a citizen of Kansas, the 
reader is referred to the history of the State with which his 
life is interwoven. As a journalist, a public sijirited citizen, 
and an ardent champion of his State, his name is inseparably 
connected witli all tliat gives a Kansan pride. 

Of the many eminent names enrolled upon the State's record 
of great men, none stands higher, either from the standpr)int of 
a citizen or public servant, than that of Preston B. Plumb of 
Emporia. 

But a few brief days ago Senator PLTmu bade adieu to his 



20 Life and Characti-r of Preston B. Plumb. 

Kmporia triemls ami his family ami departi'tl Tor Washiiij^toii 
t<) contiiHie his labors in hchall" of Kansas and the nation. 
To-<lay En»i>oria is in the habiliments of nioiirnin<; to \v 
ceivc back all that iiMiiains of the (in<-t' stionj; man and 
einint-nt leader. To Kansas he was a most worthy eitizen 
and repiesentative, a statesman of whose hi;;h abilities the 
whole State was justly i)rond ; to Emporia he was more; he 
was oar townsman, our friend, our l)enefaetor. and our eliief 
pride. Other eommunities will lejjriet the State's loss; Eni- 
l)oria will mourn for him with a irrief akin to personal bereave- 
ment. He Ijelonged to Kansas, it is true, but he was fiorn 
iMiiporia and nt' iMnjioiia, ami I^mporia's claim was a little 
stronger and her aflection a little deeper than that of any 
other comnmnity. When here he was among: his neighbors 
and his jn-rsonal friends, among the ])eo])le with whom he had 
associated as a ini\ate citi/en. who knew liim best and es- 
teemed him most. Here was liis abiding ])laee, the oue spot 
on earth — as he him.self expressed it — tiiat lie called home, 
where he expected to spend the remainder of life when his 
oflieial duties were ended and w here he intended that his bones 
should be buried. Emporia has watched his ])nb]ic career 
Irom its beginning with solicitude and with admiration. She 
has rejoiced in his successes and h()i>e<l for him yet greater 
honors to conu'. Now slie bows in deepest sorrow to a fate 
no |)ower can alter anil shares tln' poignant grief tliat weighs 
down a stricken family. 



TIIK CAKEKK OV SKNATOI! I'LIMl!. 
I Hon. .I;h-m1i Stutler, in lln? Sunint-r Cnnnly Ph-'hs.] 

The writer lirst met the late Senator I'l.lMH in Mareii. l.S.JG. 
He was one of the jMiblishers of tlie Xenia (Ohioi Xews. He 
ativertised for a foreman and we rode across the country 18 



Edilorial Xoticcs. 21 

miles IVdiii (lur old hoiuc and -ol a j,,!). Il,.|(. (•iimiiicnccd a- 
wariii tiieiidsliip whirli lasted wirli little iniei-ni|. lion tiir thirty- 
five years. He was then a slim, awkward Ixiy of m, hut with 
the same liabits of industry that characterized his entire career. 
We were told by his emi)loyes that we would not stay in tlie 
office three weeks; that I'LfMB was hard to j^ct alon.i;- with, 
etc. He was always exactinii, hut he was fair and just. He 
hated a lazy man or a shirk all his life. We found no ddticulty 
in -ettin- along- with him. In I8.JG the h.cal deiuirtment of 
the country newsi.aper was little known. Pumb conducted 
a column in his jiaper under the strikin- head. '-Our I'ine 
Box."' The name was a nusuomer for Pujib. because we do 
not believe he ever sat on a store box long- enough to catch an 
iteiu. He rather caught them on the tly. We never knew 
mudi of his younger days. He rarely made allusions to him- 
self at any time. We learned he came from Tniou County, 
Ohio, to Xenia; that he was born in Delaware I'ounty, same 
State, October 12, 1837; that he had been at an Episcopalian 
school there and learned his trade in the oliiee of a paperofthat 
faith while securing- his schooling. We learned what we knew 
of him from a yoiiuger brother, dosephus, who was with him 
in the Xenia office. This boy was one of the most religious and 
conscientious youths we ever met. He had great faith in 
Preston, as he called him, but sometimes had to rebuke the 
future Senator for slight deviations from the straight and nar- 
row way. The editor had great love for the younger brother. 
In the Xenia Xews office :\Ir. Pli-:»ib began his earnest life 
work. He took to politics naturally. The old i.aper there was 
published by liobert .AIcBratney, who afterwards came to Kan- 
sas and died some years ago. The young editor had an ambi- 
tion to beat his competitor on all occasions and generally did 
so. We remend)er that in the summer of ISoO he went into 
tlie i.arty convention and oveiturned the jilaus of .McHiatney 



22 IJl't- au'i Character of Picslou B. Plitmb. 

ami the piilitii-iaus and won a substantial vit-toiy for his new 
pai)er. While ho was lull of the iit'o ami tun of youth, his 
assoi-iates in Xeiiia were mostly nicn considerably older than 
himself. Kven then he was consnltcd by the leading men of 
the town. His power to see the etleet of aetion was always 
-wonderful. Among his schoolfellows and neighbors when a 
boy he was the leader. An accident hapijeued to him when a 
boy which nearly cost him his life and must have impressed 
him with the importance of being more cautious. There was 
some sort of a celebration, and among the attractions was a 
tame bear chained in a barn. This was fun for the boys, and 
young Plvmh entered fully into the sport of teasing the young 
aninral. He ventured too close and was caught and nearly 
torn to pieces. The great scars on his legs and body he carried 
to his grave. 

The i)olitical excitement in Ohio that year over the Kansas 
struggle was at fever heat. The late Granville Moody was the 
Methodist jireacher tor Xenia. He was an agitator and tighter. 
He stirred the young men and old and he and Pli'MH wi're 
friends. When the Fremont campaign was on. the \-oung 
editor entered into the spirit of the struggle with all the 
enthusiasm of his nature. He was literally working himself 
to death even at that date to establish his paper and make it 
the leader. We know of his working three nights in a week 
all night. In broken health he canu' into the ollice one tlay 
and anntmnced his intention of going to Kansas. •• AN hen 
will you go?" "To-morrow.'' And he went. Ue traveled over 
the territory mo.stly <m foot, going as far west as where Salina 
now stands, where lie ami olliiis laid out a town. 1 think, 
which they named .Mariposa, in hon(»r of Fremont. When he 
went he was for noninterference with slavery. When he re- 
turned he was a thorough abolitionist and for a tight if ueces- 
f?ary. He had no patience with or respect loi the timeserving 



Editorial Solicrs. 23 

and slav('i'y-\V()rslii])iiiL; administratidii w lii<-li was iisiiii;- all its 
])ii\V('r to torce slaver V 1)11 Kansas li\ fair iiieaiis or foul. Ills 
healtli had so far iniiirovi'd in the six or seven weeks' trip and 
he had become so robust and bronzed that his Xenia friends 
hardly recognized him. From that time on his whole lite was 
for Kansas. Sacritiein.ii- his interests in Xenia he raised a small 
company for the Kansas service and was chosen its leader. 
That company came through most of the way on foot. It had 
charge of a cannon from Iowa City, which was delivered safely 
at To]»eka. At one time they were pressed and liuried their 
gun. At another time there was a mutiny in the company, 
which was speedily suppressed by Mr. PiAurB and one of his 
faithful friends. 

During the winter Mr. I'lumb and his Mariposa friends had 
to abandon their quarters in the far West and retreat to Law- 
rence to keej) from starving. Here for a time he worked at 
the printers' trade and fell in with a party who were about to 
lay out the new town of Emporia. He agreed for his jtart to 
start a paper to speak for the interests of the wondertiil new 
city. Returning to Ohio in March. 18."i7, he induced a number 
of young men, including the \\Titer, to go to the new town. 
The first nnmbei' of the Emporia News was issued June 6, 
1857. The new town was 75 miles from Lawrence, the leading 
town in the Territory, and the embryo 8euat(u- not infrequently 
made the trip on foot. 

Jlr. Plumb was a l)orn leader. At the new town nothing 
could be done without him. His guiding hand was in everv- 
thing. He was poor and all were poor, but the interests of 
Emporia were always kept in the front. Plumb had raih-oad 
men, merchants, professional men, mechanics, and manufac- 
turers tliere all the time looking at the new city. ISia railroad 
meeting in any part of the Territory was allowed to pass with- 
out an Emporia representative. So, with political movement.s. 



24 Life and Character of Preston B. Plitiiib. 

Kiiiporia was in tv» r\ tliiiij:. His activity begat encmios, wbo 
<jrcasi<>iially iiiadc sorties ajrainsi iiiiii. hut tliey retired always 
IVoiii tlie citiitest worsted. The News was a surprisingly well- 
edited pajier. IttiH>k raid< at onee with the best in the Terri- 
ttiry, and never (Hcuiiieti a duubtfnl posiTiiin on any (jnestion. 
I'LIMI! seeniccl lo know e\ (Tylliing at twenty, and what sur- 
prised liis friends was where he learned so niueli, lieeause liis 
educational advantages were limited, liis power as a writer 
was recognized all over the Territory. At home he was the 
centei- around which the scattered settlement hiigel.v levohi-d. 
If the boys had a little fun on hand. I'l.f.MB was in it. If the 
community was in any sort of tiouble, the tirst question wa.s, 
••Where is ruMl!?" If he was not at home he was sent for. 
We rememb<r that in l^iil there were fiiiiuent incursions of 
liii>liwiiackers in the soutlicasiern part of the State. Hum- 
boldt, an out])Ost. was saekeil twice. The h-ader of this gang 
was a desperado named Matthews. The settlers on the lower 
Neosho appealed to their brethren farther up the rncr for 
helji. Pi.i'Mis was ready in a few hours. With nineteen Em- 
poria boys he was riding rajudly to the scene of trouble. l>y 
the time they arrived the bushwhackers iiad retreated to 
where Cherokee County now is. Quite a force of settlers had 
gathered from dilferent quarters. It is prolialile tliat lieie 
I'Ll'MU and the late (leueral lUnnt first met. They resolved 
at once to pursue Matthews. The result was that Matthews 
never again troubh-d the settlers or anyone else. Here Plumb 
and Blunt smelt the (irst blood of the wai. 

Mr. Pli'MB's father and his family foUowed the son to Kan- 
sas. They settled on the Ne<islio, near Kmi)oria. Their allec- 
tion for the son was very great and it was reci|)rocated. The 
fatliei- was a quiet man of sterling i(U;ilitics. He is still living 
at Emporia. Tlie mother died a few years ago. Siie was a 
woman of superior intelligence and strong will power. These 



Editorial A'o/nc.s. 25 

(ilil \»'i>\>U' sfc?iic.l to lie of the I'liiihin stock. Miss Ellen 
IMuiiil) lias Ix'cii in tlic liouk liiisincss in Minporia tor tAvwity 
years or iiioic. and is :i most excellent woman. The brother 
spoken of in the beninnini; of tiiis article died soon after their 
aiiival. and the loss was serion.sly fi'lt by all the fatnily. One 
brother. William . I., has been in Nevada or Id ado for many 
.years. (reori;e I'lnnd) is a farmer near Emiioria. Arthur is a. 
merchant at IJeading. lie has been m the legishitnre. The 
youngest child. Mary, is the wife of Perry Edwards, a farmer 
near ICmjioria. 

He soon determined to leave the newspaper and to study 
law. He attended lectures two winters at OlevehiiHl. iieturn- 
ing to Emporia in ISGl, he opened a law otifice. He told the 
writer it was not much ol' a law olHce, with a rmb' table and 

some store boxes for seats, but that the oftice was as g I as 

the lawyer. During thi.s time his health was precarious. He 
liad frequent and severe hemorrliages of the lungs, and it wa.s 
feared he would notreeoyer. In 18(ii' tlie war feyer seized him. 
He was a warm admirer of Gen. Tom Ewing, and when that 
gentleman was authorized to raise the Eleyenth Kansas Infan- 
try Plumb Joined him and raised two companies at Emporia 
and surrounding country. lie threw all liis energy and zeal 
into this movement and was very etticient in assisting (ien. 
Ewing. He served until the close of the struggle and eame out 
brevet eohinel. In the service he regained his health. In fact, 
it seems to have saved his life for the honorable and useful 
career before him. Coming out of the war he formed a i)artner- 
shi]i with the late Judge IJuggles, and won distinction and suc- 
cess at the bar. In this he woiked day and night. Xo task or 
<liity ever staggered him. The firm had a business in the last 
two or three years of its existence (mly surpassed by one in 
the young State. His next undertaking was banking. He 
had induced ()hio friends an<l others to invest in a bank, and, 



26 Life and Omractcr of Pres/oii B. Plumb. 

tli<' returns not being satisfaftory, tliey finally di'iuandcil he 
slioulil take the management of the concern. He did so. ami 
tlie result wasanother success. The liaiik sixm took rank among 
the best in the State. .Mr. Pumh had secured considerable 
wealth by his habitsof industry and economy and by forttmate 
sj)cculations. He was a moneymaker. He jiossessetl a fore- 
sight in this respect which was wonderful. At the close of the 
war he said to a frieud, '• There is going to be a cliauce to make 
some money in the next live or ten years which neither of us 
may ever hare again. 1 have determJTied to avail myself of it. 
I shall devote all my energy and powers in .securing my share of 
it. \Vi- have had a good time as boys togetlicr in Emporia; 
now we are men. and it is time for us to do .something for 
our.selves. I sliall i)ursue this course ami 1 adxisc you to do 
the same." He carried out liis programme and won. He bad 
not made anything out of liis town s])eeulation. He gave away 
the most of his lots. At the close of the war he was not worth 
over .S3,()0(». He had an intuitive knowledge of investments. 
In twenty years he had an immense fortune. 

Senator Plt'mh held the following ollicial positions: .Mem- 
ber of the Leavenworth constitutional convention, 1S.">.S; re- 
])orterof the supreme court in 18(il. which he vacati'd by resig- 
nation: representative in the legislature in isfii'; representative 
anil speaker in ISlJT: rejjresentative in ISCiS; elected I'nitcd 
States Senator in 1S77, and reelected in IHS.'} and 188!», ]U'ac- 
tically without ojiposition in liis party. His candidacy in 1877 
was ])urely the work of his friends, lie did not Itclievc he 
could succeed, saying that his time ha<l imi come tn run for 
so high an ollice. Just prece(ling this he had s]>eut ten or 
twelve years in the law and banking business, had j)ai<I little 
attention to ])olitics. and was not so well known as formerly. 
He liuwcver yicldcil In ihe solicitations nf friends wlnt sin- 
cereh desired to see him in the Senate and wiio maintained 



Editorial Notices. 27 

that defeat, if it eame. woiilii not liiirt liiiii. Mr. I'M'MH liad 
always lieeii an ardent a<lmirer ot Horace llreeley and had 
voted for him for President in ISTi'. Ohltinie Rei)uhlieans 
predicted tins act would hurt him in the race, and it did. Had 
it not been for that vote he would iiave made a bettei' lace, if, 
indeed, he liad not seiaired liis electi<Mi. He was recofini/.ed 
by all as in many ies])ects the ablest and best man m the race 
at the time. As it was, he aud his friends made a clean and 
spirited light and retired in most excellent condition, leaving 
all interests friendly and IMr. Tlt^mb in most excellent sha])e 
for the next contest. In 1877, after a stubbornly fought con 
test, he was elected on the sixteenth ballot. No man ever had 
more ardent sujiporters than he. His course in the Senate is 
so well known by the people of the State that it need hardly 
be mentioned. No State ever had a inoi'c etticient, faithful, or 
truer representati\e in that body. From the day he entered 
the Senate he grew. He was better acquainted with people 
personally than any Kansas politician has ever been. He lived 
neai' them and he worked forthem. No man e\('r wrote to him 
wlio did not get an answer, which stated frankly what could 
or could iu)t be done for liim. He kept himself constantly in 
accord with the public sentiment of the State. From this he 
largely shaped his course. He was in constant C()rrespondeuce 
with hundreds of his constituents, asking about the condition 
of the crops or this or that interest. He had an interest in 
everything that ]iertained to his State. He began to study it 
in lcS57. He knew moie about it than anyone I'lse. He was 
carelul and painstaking in everything, but in nothing more 
than in gathering information about Kansas. He perceived it 
to be his duty to be representative of Kansas interests. In 
this regard he was the highest type of a Senator. While 
taking a general interest in national atfairs and everything in 



28 Life and C/taractcr of Pre shut B. Plumb. 

peiieial <U-b;itf. In- was pici-iiiiiu'iitly a rt'iPicsi'iitativt' nf his 
own peiiple. 

Tlie ix'opli' of IvaiisUs liavi- lost a valual)lf tViiiul. one w liose 
]ilaci' willi)rol)aV)ly never bi' tilled, and the sorrow is universal. 
The wliole State is in niournint;-. He has more ])ersonal friends 
in Kansas than any other man ever had. OntheSth of Mareli, 
lS(i7. at Ashialmla. Ohio. -Mr. I'l.iMii married Miss Caroline 
Suuthwick. The fruits of this marriajie were six ehildren, 
who. -iiven in order, are as follows: Mary. Aiuos. Thomas, 
Hiith, Caroline, and Pre.ston. Thomas died Fehrnary -I, 1872; 
Preston is attending .selioolat Nazant h. 1 'a., amK aroliue atLit- 
itz. I'a. Both, in comiiany with Amos, wlio was under medical 
treatment in I'liiladelpbia when the news reaehed him. started 
for li^mporia ai ome. to he at the funeral of their lather. 

Senator 1'm'MU literally made hinisiH what he was. His 
career .shows the jHissihilities of Ameiican citi/.i'Ushiii to him 
who is willinn' lo seize his opportunities and use them for all 
they are worth. He was a great student as well as a great 
worker. He had a wonderfully retentive memory. The sen- 
sible [iractieal part of everything was made useful by him. 
He was little in society. He had not mucli time tor the ordi 
nary forms of social life. Ibit peo])le were endeared to liim in 
high degree for his worth a- a nuiii and his work for them. 
Ilis work is linished. It was a life iiiasier\(ir everything t iiat 
came before him for actioir. His career stands out iu the broad, 
bright light of gi-nius. of energy, of devotion to duty. His 
luime is wiittcM in colors that will last in the high jdaces of 
the nation and on the hearts of the iieopk'. Hail he lived ten 
years longer he would lia\e liecn President. 



Editorial Notices. 29 



IKiW WK lU'RIED HIM. 

[Hon. M. M. lliinl...k, in tlir Wichita Daily V.:v^V-, D.vcnil.rr ;;C., \m\.\ 

In coiiipaiiy with many fellow citizens, we went up to Imry 
the friend of the many. Ilaviui;for the last time looked upon 
his great, kind, rugged face, which held oidy the gentle repose 
of a natural, restful sleep, we left him, all alone, out in the sad 
prairie, down foui- feet under the cold weight of the coarse 
gravel of a bleak knoll, \vhose brown-gray summit overlooks 
the scenes of his life's supreniest struggles and freshest hopes; 
clustering along wliosi' lower slopes are the ties and interests 
of the homes and institutions for which his loyalty never 
•wavered, and for the rude foundations of whose commoni)lace 
superstructures he held a more abiding love, a truer pride, 
than for even those which in magnilicence inclose the crypt, 
the marble floors, and sustain the mighty dome of the Nation's 
Capitol. This friend of the many was thus left there, all 
alone, in the gloom of the waning ilay, while the many who 
had by him been befriended stood disturbed, vexed, and dis- 
contented, to be whirled, full soon, homeward, away through 
the night, to face again, with mayhaji a more sul>ducd ambition, 
the i)roblems and duties of life. The day had been a perfect 
one in its mocking glory of warm sunshine, but as the hard 
clods fell heavily down over the (luict face and uniesisting 
breast of him whom we all were so loath to leave to such loneli- 
ness, the protecting arch of heaven's bhu' depths were sud- 
denly veiled in troubled clouds like folds of moiuniug crape, 
aiul as the dark came down the lamenting winds, in an increas- 
ing chill, swept with regretful sighs that desolate spot, de 
serted by the living for the dead. 



30 Life and Character of frcslon B. l'lu»ib. 



THE STORY OF THK SKNATOR ANT) TlIF, ACTOR. 
[Mr. AlcxiUitU-r Hiitt.^, in ttic Kansas Citv Star.J 

riiarlcs I). Keack', the assistant sorjjoautatarms of tho 
Uuitt'd States Seiiat<'. who had cliai'tje of the Coiifiiessioual 
party that atteiuU'il the lum ral of the hite Senator PH'iiB, 
was for a iiniiilxT of yi-ars the personal friend of the man whose 
body he escorted to its last resting: plaei-. 

I{ea<le introdueed Senator 1'hmb to "Billy" Crane, whose 
eharaeterin "The Senator" is a study of the Kansas Senator. 

•• 1 liave lieen wondering; for the last day or two." remarked 
Keatle, last evening, on the train returning from l-anporia, 
"whether 'Billy' Crane will ever play 'The Senator' again. 
I introdueed Pijmh and ("rane. It was like this: Crane isan 
old friend of mine, and one excning when he was jilayinu in 
Washington I was sitting in his dressing room, lie had been 
telling ine that he and Robson were to part company and that 
lu- was to stage a play himself, but he ditl not tell nu' what the 
play was to \w. Dniing the course of tlie e\ ening he rcnnirked 
that he would like nnieh to meet some members of the United 
States Senate. I told him that if he would do me the honor to 
dine witli me I would introduce him to a nundier. He con- 
sented at once, and I arranged a little liinnir [iHrty. 

'•The repast was spread in tiie private rooms of the Senate 
restaurant. I invited a littli' party. Hale was theic and 
l!lackl)urn and half a dozen otiiers. I'l-fMH was in\ited. but 
he was very busy that alhinoon and did not get tinrc until we 
had readied crackers and colfee. When Pn'Mli arri\cd Crane 
at onc(' devoted ids attention to I'Li Mli. The two got away 
from the rest of the i)aity and sat for a long time at a little 
side table. After that Crane eame into the Senate chand)er 



Hdiloiial Notices. 31 

evt'iy <l;iy while lie rcmaiued in Wasliin^toii aud sat tlific with 
his I'vcs tixed on I'UMis. I could not iiuagiiie why he was so 
greatly inteiestcd in tin' jii'iitlciiiaii lidiii Kansas. 

"A week or two after he had Hrst i)iesented his new play I 
saw Crane at the Star theater, New York. I sat aud watched 
the first act and tiicn went behind. 'IJilly,' I said, ' I see now 
why you were studyini;- I'LUMB .so closely.' He laughed aud 
pointe<l to his mirror. Just above it was uailed a large portrait 
of Senator Pujii!. 

"The first time Crane jiroduced 'The Senator' in Wash- 
ington lie said that iie would nuich like to meet Plumi! again, 
and 1 told him that I would see if I could arrange it. I did 
not know how Plumb would feci about it. All the critics had 
at once recognized Plumb in Crane's Senator, and there had 
been a great deal of newspaper gossip aliout it. 1 went to 
Plumb, however, and asked him if he would accept an invita- 
tion to a dinner party to meet Crane again. He said that he 
would be delighted to do so, and so I gave the party. The 
dinner was served in the room of the Committee on Naval Af- 
fairs and there was a pleasant crowd present. In its, way I 
think that it was one of the most unicjue dinner parties ever 
given. As host I, of course, sat at the head of the table. 
Plumb was on my right and Crane ujion my left. It was one 
of Plumb's playdays. He was in great spirits. He had to 
leave the table once to nuike a motion on the floor, but it was 
not a busy day with him and he gave up the whole afternoou 
to the dinner. Crane, as every one knows, is one of the fine, 
old-class, stage gentlemen, and a most entertaining entertainer. 
He told his stories as no one else can tell them, and so much 
had he entered into the spirit of his character of the Senator 
that he punctuated all his stories w ith unmistakable Pli'mb 
gestures. Everyone at the talile noticed it and enjoyed it 
hugely, no one so much, however, as I'lumb. lie watched 



32 Life and Cliaractcr of Prrsloit />. P/u»il). 

Craiu- witli roars (if laughter. Not a motion of tlie actor es- 
called liirii. • (ioinl,' lie would exclaim, as Ciaiie did sumethiiig 
characteristic of ri.iMK. Crane, {getting into the sjiirit of it, 
acted the Senator at the tlimur tahle as iierfectly as he ever 
acted it ui)on the hoards. 

"Then 1'LUMH would tell a story. It was his story telling 
day. When PuntB began to talk then Crane watched I'l.i mh 
even more rlosejy tliaii ri,f\Ili watcheil Crane. ICveiy now 
and then I*HM15 would notice it, and. jjausing in his story, 
would exclaim: ' Here, Crane, sto]) studying me,' in a manner 
that would semi the whole party ott' into roars of laughter. 

■•It was a merry jiarty. Poor Pl.tMl?. 

'■ Seriously, Plximh said before we left the table that he 
wi.shed it understood that he took no oiien.se at Crane's plac- 
ing his characteristics upon the stage. The play, he said, 
was a good one and one with a high moral, and the actor 
was a man whom he was proud to call his friend. 

" As ' The Senator ' (Jrane does not attem])t to make u]) as 
PH'MB, although he wears the same style of beard Th'MH 
always wore, but he tried to mold c\ i ly characteristic ol' his 
Senator to correspond to those of the man from Kansas. At 
tirst he ajipeared in the last act wearing a silk hat, but i re 
marked once that I never saw Pi.I'MR wear a high hat in my 
lite, and that niglit lii' put tlic high h;il aside. I spoke to liim 
once of how I'l.fMi? used his handkeicliief while speaking, 
and aftei- that Cram- mojiiied his face in the old way so famil- 
iar to all of Pl.fMij's friends. 

''Crane and Plvmu afterward became great triends ;ind 
never missed a chance to get together, and. now that I'i.tmh 
i.s dead, I wonder wliat liillv is goiugtodowith • The ."scMator.''' 



Editorial Notices. 33 



A OLOSK t)BSERVER'S DESCRIPTION. 

[Mi-. W. l!.Sti.veiis, in llu- St, Luuia (Unlii-DtludCnit. | 

Senator Plumb was the most accessible man in public life. 
You rang- the hell at the house on Fourteenth street and asked : 
"Is the Senator inf" The formula of reply was the same 
every time. The maid who answered the bell s'Liuced at the 
door of tlie Senator's ])arlor. If the key was in the lock, she 
nodded. If the key was not in sight, she looked behind the 
door to see if it was hanging on the accustomed nail. If it 
was tlieie she knew the Senator was not in and shook her 
head. If she nodded yon stci)i)ed t() the Senatoi-'s door and 
knocked. A genuine Western "Com<^ in!" followed. And 
that was the whole ceremony of admission to Senator Plumb's 
presence. Nobody ever sent in a card a second time. If the 
Senator was "in" he was in to everyliody. If he was "out" 
he was out in fact. For business or begging, for social call or 
curiosity, the latchstriug hung on tlie outside. 

When you step|)cd within you faceil the rear elevation of 
a de.sk. This desk stood in tiie center of the room. Above it 
a rack of pigeonholes rose half way to the chandelier. On top 
of the pigeoidioles were pai)ers. Somebody was behind the 
desk and the pigeonholes. As the door closed behind you the 
Senator raised his head just high enough to see over the top of 
the rack, greeted yon by name, said "Sit down," and then 
dro])i>ed his face to the pile of letters again. The picture of 
tlnit face over the top of the desk will come back to many who 
had the common experience of those who called at Seiuitor 
Plimis's room. The Senator had a way of dropping the lower 
jaw as he threw his head back, and there was a look of inquir- 
ing expectancy on his face. 

S. Mis. 22S ;! 



34 Life and Character of Preston H. Plumb. 

AroiiiKl the I'lljies of the room were i)laiiily upholstered 
ehairs and solas. They were always more or less oeciiiiied. 
SomeV>ody was ever waiting to see tin- Senator. I'luiii oni- to 
half a dozen people had business with him. A revolving book- 
case in a corner was packed full of xoluines. There were letter 
tiles on the mantelpiece, newspapers on the lloor, aud a large 
print of Gladstoni' on the wall. 

The Senator's niethotls of wuik rendered this accessibility 
possible. He could not have made himself so utterly free to 
all callers if he had been in the habit of doing one thing at a 
time. He did two, three, aud four things at one time. Often 
and often he sat dictating letters to his stenographer, glancing 
over newspapers, and transacting business with callers. Was 
it any wonder that the tissue of the cells of the brain gave way 
under that kind of mental strain? There was no oidinary 
stenographer who could kec]) iijt with him. so be would dictate 
thiee or four sentences like a Hash, turn in conversation for ten 
or lifteen seconds to his visitor aud at the same time keep on 
opeiiuig and scanning newsi)ai>ers. And here was the remark- 
able thing about his nund's ojieration. In the gajjs between 
dictation be carried the thread of what he wanted to say in the 
letter. He carried the thread of conversation at the same 
time. rerhai)s the latest remark of the visitor was made alter 
the Senator had resumed dictation. Tlic trained ear and bu.sy 
mind caught it. When the dictation sto)i]i((l the Senatorweut 
right on with the conversation. He did not repeat to his ste- 
nographer. He did not ask his visitor what he had just said. 
And the opening and reading of new.spapers continued. The 
mind had triple capacity seemingly. This statement may be 
called iucreditile. Those who knew the Senator will verily it. 
Mr. I'Li'Mirs fellow Senators often remarked ui)on this ])eculiar 
faculty or activity of mind. It was this which enabled him to 
carry so long "as much work as six men could have done and 



Editorial Notices. .">5 

prcsiTVc Ilicii- li\es,"t() iiudIc Ilii' words oI' Smulor Maiulcisoii. 
Of N;ii)iil('(iii the liistoliaus any lie cdiilil read willi one fyfiiml 
write witli the otlit'i-; tlial. is, lie ciiiilil cnii-v two trains df 
tliduti'lit in Ills mind at the same time. This cxtiaordinar.N 
faculty Seuator Plitmb possessed. Often he a^()S(^ to address 
the Senate and as he did so woidd piek up from the desk in 
front of him pajier after ])a])er. The easual oliserver tliouj^lif 
these were notes of%vhat the Seuatoi- wanted to say. Tliey 
were not. They were the letters of the morning's mail wliieh 
he had gathered up and brought into the Senate chandjer with 
him. lie was aetually addressing the .Senate and at the same, 
time going through his correspondence. 

He took a thousaud periodicals, and he bought more books 
than any other member of the Semite. Most of the i^eriod- 
icals were weekly pajiers. For the purchase of liooks hi' had a, 
])eculiar arrangement which he explained not long ago. One 
of the largest book-dealing houses in Xew York sent him 
monthly, or oftener, a descriptive list of everything recei\ed 
in stock since the former rejiort. On this list the Senator 
checked all tliat aroused his interest. The list was returned 
to the dealer and the box of books came. It was seldom that 
the Senator's room did not coutain one of these monthly or 
fortnightly ■consignments of the latest volumes. He went 
througli the boolcs in the same steam-enginelike way he did 
everything. 

Senator Plumb answered over .'!U,0()0 letters a year. Sen- 
ator Manderson says : "A jury would probably And that Sena- 
tor PLtniB was killed l)y his correspondents." While Congress 
was in session :\Ir. Plumb's letter mail never droj)ped be- 
low 100 a day and often it reached 200 a day. And all let- 
ters were answered. There are public men who have litho- 
graphed forms to meet ordinary demands of correspondents. 
They receive a letter and rejjly with one of thesi- forms, ti-ll- 



.'56 Life and C/iarac/cr of Preston B. Pltivib. 

iii^ the fonfs|Kiii(li'iit liis •>rc(|iu-sl will icci-ivf due attcutiou." 
Tliis was not tliekiiid of tivatiiiciit Si-iiator I'l.UMli f^ave. He 
was intensely and honestly ]iraetical. When anybody wrote 
a>kin,t; liini tn do .^-onictliiiiu' ln' iiini to do il if it was within 
the ran^ie of proliable ai-conii)li.sliinenI. 'I'lir Senator had let- 
ters from |iension ajjiilieants, letters from homesteaders, letters 
from farmers who wanted seeds, from jieojjle who had siiflered 
from Indian raids, letters tVom those who wanted a|>])oint- 
meiits. r>i>sidcs all of these elasses whom he tried to serve he 
was in corresixnidenee with ]K'opIe all over the country who 
wanted to exehanjic ideas. To this latter kiinl of eorres]K)nd- 
ence he .i;a\e a ureat deal of time, for it was a cai'dinal ]>iiuci 
jde with him to kee|> track of i)iiblic sentiment. That was one 
reason why he leeeived and read every lJci)iil)lican pai)er aud 
and most of the other pa]>ers imhlished in the State of Kan 
sas. lie could j;i> throuuli these news|)a))ers with the ])racticed 
hand and eye of an old newspajier man. lail In- saw all that hi' 
wanted to see in e\ery one ol tliem. These news])a])ers were 
not taken to his committee room to be run <pver by a juivate 
secretary who nii;;ht call the Senator's attention to what he 
thought interesting to liim. To the day of hisdeath tlic> went 
to the Senator's rooms to be handled l)y him alone. 

'• 1 am representinjj the peo])]e of Kansas. They want 
these Iliin;;s, and they elected me to carry out theil' wishes.'' 
Thisiswhai tlic Senator said one day to some of the Hastern 
lvei)ul)licans when they siiui;lil to influence him during;' the 
tariff and silver stru};i;Ic in the last ("onj-ress. lie made it 
his business to be in liiu' with the sentiment of his Stale, lb- 
had that purpose in mind when he said this u holesalc readin<r 
of his State papers was the best political investment he ever 
made. Kansas is a State where sentinu'iit chancres (piickly. 
The rarelied attnosi)here swee](int; down from the Kocky 
Mountains iiisiiires inlcllccliml aclivilv. Senator I'l.iMi! 



luiiloriai Notices. 37 

might be away tor the best part of tlie year, but this .■..nstaiit 
contact with Kansas sentiment thronsii tlie ne.wspa])ers kept 
liiiu in toueh with his |„.,,plt.. He grew stronger in their es- 
teem every year. Quay used to say, with e\ ident admiration : 
'■He is the best politician of us all. He has got tlie local polit- 
ical conditions of his State at his hngers' ends all of the time." 
Does any one ask for more dehniteness about the load Sena- 
tor Plumb was carrying for his constituents ? There are i)eii(l- 
iiig to-day iu the Pension Ottice t)ver (!,0(I0 claims for Kansas 
iu various stages of progress, all tiled and pushed by Senator 
Plumi!. •■ Let me see; there was something I wanted to talk 
to you about," he said one morning as he came out of the Sen- 
ate restaurant ; it was less than a week before he died. As he 
walked slowly toward the Senate barber shoj) he said: " We 
have got to do something aI)out this pension business. It i.s 
going too far. I think you could get up au interesting letter 
on the subject. I can furnish you with a lot of material." Au 
indehnite engagement was made for the near future, but death 
came before it was fultilled. 

There was a conversation of some length on Thursday, the 
day the Seuator went to Philadelphia to consult the specialist, 
Dr. Pepper. It related to the candidacy of Ex-Gov. George T. 
Anthony for the Interstate Commerce conimissionership. The 
scene was a ty])ical one for the Senator's icom. .Ah-. Plumb 
.sat at his tall desk, without any vest and without a shirt collar. 
A great gray dressing gown, without ornanuMitation, i)lain as 
an army blanket and of not nuich finer texture, was thrown 
around liini. lie had not had time to go to breakfast. The 
hour was an early oue tbr Washiugtim. On tiie desk was a 
heap of typewritten answers to correspondents. Two ladies 
sat waiting in oue corner of the room. Private Secretary Flen- 
nik.'n stoo.l behind the Senator, taking memoramla of various 
Department matters to be attended to. Col. :\rannin.u sat at 



38 /,//(■ and Cliaraclcr ofPrcstou B. Plumb. 

the winilow waiting for a conference on a matter of business. 
A telej;rani was shown to the Senator. It proinjited him to 
hiy aside all other matters and enter into a <'onlidential con- 
versation. Only when he was <;reatly interested did he give 
his miiid to a sinj;le line of thonj;ht. He talked for ten or lif- 
tecn minutes, fioin^i' over the matter of l']x-(iov. Anthony's can- 
didacy and the tipiiositiou of Congressman Kunston. There 
was no trace of anger in his manner. But in most earnest lan- 
guage the Senator fxi)rcss('(l his regret that such ])ersonal dif 
ferences had occurred. He told how a State's intluence was 
cri])i)led at Washington when lepresentative men of thei)arty 
fell out. as in this case. He described the effect of Mr. Funs- 
ton's hostility toward Anthony at the White House. Tlie c|ues- 
tion was not as to the truth of what Funston had charged. 
The fact that he had gone to the I'resident and had protested 
showed the lack of Imrnuiny in Kansas and promiitcd the Pres- 
ident to ignore the State in tin- matter of this aiiimintment. 
The Seiuitor dei)lored the action of Mr. l^'unstoii on the hitter's 
account. He said that it could not but hurt the Ueprcsentative 
in his district. He could not see liowa man could soperniit his 
personal resentment to injure himself. 

This talk illustrated a phase of the Senator's character. 
His intensely practical luiture enabled him to see the folly of 
anger, and it was very seldom that his temper got tlu' better 
of him. There are not numy people in \^■ashingtou who ever 
saw Senator Pia'MB really angry. 

■Mention has been nuule of the Senator at work at his desk 
before l)reakfast. That was a common custom with him. Less 
than a week before he died he arose one morning and (li<laieil 
the answers to 10.') letters before lireakfast. Tsually he dic- 
tated his letters to the stenographer in the afternoon. But lie 
never allowed the tyi)ewritten copies to go out until he had 
read and revised everv line. This was the work he most fre 



Editorial Xolices. 39 

(liioiitly did tlie first thing' after lie arose in the niornini;. lie 
i-ead closely every letter before it went out and he signed his 
name. Those who received letters mailed within the last three 
or four days before he died will notice the difference in the 
signature. The ou(w strong, bold liand worked irregularly and 
tremblingly toward the last. The brain was failing. 

Ex-Senator lugalls made this lather surprising icniark 
about Mr. Plumb the other day: "There was no gush, no 
pathos, no reveries, nor reminiscences, nor retros])ection ab(mt 
him. He was not by nature or habit a sentimentalist.'' It 
seems hardly possible that this is a correct quotation of ^Ir. 
Ingalis. There was no man in the Senate who enjoyed reminis 
cences more than did Senator Plumb. That was almost the 
only relaxation he gave himself and his enjoyment of it was 
infectious. He would at times throw everything aside and 
talk of the war as lie had seen it, of the men he had known, 
of the places he had visited. His narrations were most vivid. 
A few nights ago he leaned l)ack in his chair and for the last 
time told the story of Buck and Ball to Senator Paddock, of 
Nebraska, and another caller. The anniversary of the first 
and only issue of Buck and Ball was at hand. The Senator 
said he was going to celebrate it with a little dinner. "Pad- 
dock," he added, "you nuist be snre to be there. Don't make 
any (itlier engagement for that night.'' 

Plumb's regiment — he was then major — the Eleventh Kan- 
sas, had gone down into Arkansas for its baptism of tire. It car- 
ried a great 72-caliber weapon, which was loaded with a feartul 
charge of " buck and ball." Tom Ewing, the colonel, nsed to in- 
sist that his command ought to be classed as "light artillery." 
I'LUMB said that when the Eleventh went out for target prac- 
tice peojde moved over into the next county. At Cane Hill, 
hidden away in a log cabin on the outskirts of the village, the 
Eleventh found what was left of a country newspaper outfit. 



40 Life and Character oj Preston B. Plumb. 

It lia<l bet-ii iiiovftl Irinii Talilct|iiali. the Cherokee raiutal. and 
smiu' of till- k'ttcis were the Cherokee eharaeters. The type 
was scattered in tlie dirt and the press was in fra{;meuts. 
I'Li'MB, Ross, (who voted against the imjjeachuient of Andrew 
.lohnsoii). and S. J. Crawford (afterwards governor of Kansas) 
were among the iirinlers in the Eleventh. They gathered up 
the type, sorted it. and in ilie rest which fo]h)wed the (iv<Mhiys' 
rniining fight tliey ]>roceeded to get out a newsjjaper. 

••One of our lirst dilliculties," said the Senator, as lie told tlie 
story to the two listeners, "was to get enough big letters for 
the title. The boys who had been ahead of us had picked out 
the. job type for initial letters and had carried them otf. We 
chose the name of the paper to conform to our scanty stock of 
big type. The exigency of the font rather than the appropri- 
ateness .suggested Buck and I'.all. Short as it was we needed 
a letter or two. Crawford or Koss or somebody else whittled 
out the substitutes from a stick. We did not capitalize in all 
cases where it was needed and we used italics in the middle of 
words. It wasn't because we diiln't know better. Welinally 
got together enough type of various kinds to set \\\) a six col- 
umn form, r.y the time that was ready the old i)ress had been 
tinkeretl into shape to run. The next thing was white jiajier. 
Sonic of the boys in aiiotlier comimnici had got iiold of a lot of 
i|uartcrmaster blanks. These we traded for, agreeing to give 
one printed sheet for so many blank sheets. A few rolls of 
wall papi'r helped out. .\.lltogcther we managed to get the 
paper to jirint 1. .■>()(> copies on one side, .lust as we were run- 
ning otl' the last sheets word canu' tlia' lliiidiiian was ajiproach- 
ing. We dropjied everything right there and went into bat- 
tle." 

The Seiialoi' lulii <il' Ilie ligliling which ensued. In llie 
movement <>f the troops ('anc Hill was tini|iorarily evacuated. 
As his men Icll back Ihroiigh the village .MaJ. I'l.rM]! could 



Edilorial Xoliccs. 41 

not resist tlic t('iii|it;itioii to lijiveonc luin'c loolc ;it liis tempo- 
raiy printing ollici'. 'riicre lay the I'oriii and tlic picss and 
hall-priuti'd edition oC Uuek ^id Hall. It seemed too bad to 
lose all that trouble. 

" I hastily rolled the paj)crs up in a i)nndle," said tlie 8en- 
ator, "tied a eord around tliem, and carried flie Imndle to the 
door. The last andjulance was Just beinj;- driven oil'. I iiailed 
il, threw the bundle into the rear end of the wagon, and saw 
the team dash up the hill and away. 1 joined my men and we 
went in another direction. The next day we t'ou,ulit the liattle 
of I'rairie GroNc, and two days afterwards we had our iiands 
full with the wouuded. The third day 1 went in search of my 
papers. The bundle was all right. Soon after we reoccui>ied 
Cane llill. Once more we gathered up the type from the dirt, 
where the C(mfederates had scattered it, put the old ram- 
shackle press together, set u]i the other side of tlie pajter, 
and i)riuted an account of the battle of Prairie Grove. The 
pa])er was dated the (>tli. The battle of Piairie Grove didn't 
come off until tlie 7th, and that is how the discrepancy oc- 
curred. We got out and distributt'd the 1,.">()0 copies of Buck 
and IJall. Our motto was: ' Kansas is Piseu to the Hull ou 
'Em.' We got that sentiment from a long-legged fellow who 
eidisted in the Eleventh as we passed through iioitliern Ar- 
kansas, and who had an intense admiration for the way in 
which we invaded his State."' 

A man lay in a dazed condition in a Leadvillc boaiding- 
house. It was during the rush for fortuues, when that city- 
was only a mining camp. ^louiitain pneumouia caught its 
victims aiul carried them over the divide like a whiff. This 
mail's condition was tliat critical stage when a few liours' 
(continuance at 1,1(10 leet altitude nu'ant jineumonia and dcatli. 
Pn'Jiii, who was foitnne-seeking in the camp, heard of the 
sick man. Twenty-ti\e vears before the two ha<l been friends 



42 Life and Cliaractcr of Preslou //. Plumb. 

and business associates in Kansas. Twenty years before they 
had ditVercd and i|iian'clt'd. Tlicy liad not sixikeu to eacli 
other in all that interim, though their jiaths had (crossed and 
roc-rosseil. Perhaps hard words had been spoken to nuitaal 
friends. Into the sick man's room at early Tnoining; came 
Plumi!, williout a wnnl 111' in'cvinus inliiiiation to ]iave the 
way. •• Vim must get out of this," he said, after a look. A 
coui>lc of hours later, the sick man, wrajipcil in blankets, was 
lifted down stairs and intt> a four-horse auibnlance. which was 
woi-th money in those days. Over and down the mountain 
went the outfit to Park City, then the terminus of the rail 
road. The sick man was lifted into a special car. I'Lt'MH 
was still by his side. He did not leave him until he saw him 
in a hotel in Denver and in the hands of jjeople who would 
nuise him throiifih. Then, with a '-You'll be all ri<rlit now," 
he was olf. The two did not meet again tor years. But the 
story exi)lains why, on Sunday night, Richard .1. llinton 
walked the streets of Washington weeping like a child. Tlie 
news of Senator Plumh's death had Just reached him. 

" A strong man was Plumu," said he who.se life had been 
saved as described, and his voice shook with emotion, " in all 
.senses and ways excejjt taking care of him.self. He gave gen- 
erously of his vital forces and nf\cr lialanrcil the spending. 
It was his ambition to serve \vell, and as he was conscious of 
aliility to do so on a generous .scale lie was ambitious of a 
large i)lace. I'nder a brnscpie, but never a rude exterior, he 
veiled r)ne of the kindest of disi)ositions. lie was a man of 
simple courage; he never could have known how to avoid or 
evade a danger or duty, i)hysical oi- mental. No man despised 
mere con\'cntionalism more than he tlid, and so he was at war 
with tiie liction that the Tnited States Senate is Ww tinesi 
of elubs. He made it a Ibrcefnl arena and always held il in 
honor as a lofty forum. He was a man not aliaitl of his \alet, 



luiitorial Notices. 43 

t(ir lie never dreuiiietl of lieiii^' :i lieid. lie only strove to he 
■A liilly eciuipped, lionest woiknuni. tlie noblest luinnin in oui 
daily life. 1 had notieed in him of late a milder .jndj;nient; 
k'SS of the Berserker, a more ;.;cnial halanein;.;- of will and 
action." 

Senator rLUMB had a creed, lie did not heliev*^ mncli in 
saints and he fonnd some j;(iod in all sinii(>rs. One time, 
when there was a wave of denuuciation aji'ainst the JNloinions 
sweepinji' over the country and i>romptlng' the most severe 
legislation, the Senator told a story. Afti'r the war closed, 
I'LUMl? and the Eleventli Cavalry were .sent (mt to lii^ht 
Indians on the jilains. They continued at this service until 
tliey were almost the last volunteei- troops to be mustered out. 
While thus ens'a.ued they camped one night not far from a 
band of Mornmu converts on their way to Salt Lake. The 
.soldieis learned that smallpox had broken c(ut iu the jMorniou 
cara^•an; that the people had remained in camp some days. 
There was a suspicion that the party might be in some dis- 
tress. Plumb lett his soldiers ami went down to the Mor- 
mons. He met an elder in charge of the converts. After 
he had looked at the sick and had arranged to supply their 
immediate necessities, Plumb entered into conversation with 
the elder. 

'•1 found him," he said, "a i)lain, simple man, and I drew 
him out. 1 got him into conversation about his religion, about 
the motives which ])rompted him to go on a mission to these 
])eople, to labor with them, and to start with them across the 
l)lains for Salt Lake. \Ve sat theic talking well into the night. 
1 linally left the elder, satisfied in my mind that his nH>ti\"es 
were pure and good and that lu" was honestly trying, in his 
own way and ac<'ording to his own light, to do the best he 
could for humanity. That wasthetirst time I had ever had an 
oi>i>ortnnity to study these ]iecnliar |)eople. T made tlie most 



44 /,//(' and Cliaractcr of Prcstoi B. J'ltuiib. 

Ill' it; ;iiul fVfi- since ilicii, wliilc cDiKlciiiniiiji soini' of tlu'ir 
inacticfs — as all of us must — 1 liav»' felt that tlicy were at least 
entitled to be eredited with a certain honesty of purpose." 

Mr. Ingalls inn.st be mistaken in another respeet. Nobody 
who witnessed the evident ])leasnif with which Senator I'l.r.MU 
frreeted a friend lie luul nut seen fur twenty years would say 
he w as w irhdiit sentiment. .\nd tiie number of these old ac- 
t|uaiutaiices who hunteil up the Senator was further jirodf tliat 
he was not cold-bloodecl. In his l)usiest hours the Senator 
welcomed the i)artners of his pioneer days. He would leave 
the company n\' fellow Senators under almost any circiim 
stances to -'have a talk wiili a man 1 haven't seen since 
the war." He used to say to those old IViends that it felt real 
good to "seethem and rub noses awhile.'" One morning he laid 
down a letter with an ejacnlation of pleasure, and turning told 
this story: '-In IS.")?, l)efore we hatl a postotlice at Emporia, 
we used to leave messages in the cleft of a tree at the ford ot' 
the Neosho above town. .\ letter iill there would in lime 
reach the ]iersoii to wiiom it was addressed, for everybody 
crossed at that ford and looked in the <-left of the tree. Oin- 
day I found a note there for inc. It was from a man who had 
left it to inform me he was tired <)f Kansas and was y:oing 
back homi-. From lliat day to liiis I ha\e never heard I'liun 
liiiii. I clidiTt Ivuow he was living until this morning 1 recei\-ed 
this letter fr<pm him in Oregon."' Then the Senator sinih'd, re- 
read the letter, and jait it away. 

The world knows the story of how I he marks of the small- 
l)o\ came upon the Senator's face, lie went, when no oin' else 
woidd, to the rescue ol' a poor homesteader who was dying in 
his claim shanty on the Kansas |)raiiie thirtytive years ago. 
liiit the world does not know that this Senator who had no 
'■pat lies'" in his nature spent every .\car in never-paraded char- 
ity twice the amount of his senatorial salary. \\'hen the jieo- 



F.dilorial Xoliccs. 45 

pic witli whom tlic SciKitor lixcil piil rliiiii;s in onlcr a coiiiilc. 
f)t' (lays a.i;o, after tlu' I'uiifial. they foiiiid in a ilrawci- a Imii- 
(lie of crochet work for the holidays. They were mystified at 
first. Tlieii they remembered that they had seen an okl lady 
at the door with a basket of these articles trying' to sell .some 
of her handiwork, 'fliey remembered tliaton that same morn- 
iug' the Senator had come to them and jiot a quantity of 
change. Since then the old lady has come again, and she lias 
told of her talk with the kind Senator and of his promise to 
buy all the crochet work she could make up to ('Inistnias time. 

There was another discovery whn'li brought moisture to 
the eyes. In the Senator's room, after the removal of the re- 
mains, was found a collecton of holiday pi'eseuts. The Sena- 
tor had ))lanued to have bis son come down from school in 
Pennsylvania to spend the holidays with him, and he had 
found time in the midst of his public engagements to lay in a 
stock of siirprises. Can a man who loved all children, as Sen- 
ator Plimb did, be said to have no " pathos," no '^sentimeutal- 
lism?" He did much of the work which came to him from the 
pure enjoyment it gave him to be helitful to others and with 
out selfishness of moti\e. It was particularly a pleasure to 
him to see young men get along well. And he despised thor- 
\ oughly anything which savored of cynicism. If there was one 
i thing more than another which aroused the Senator's combat- 
iveness, it was when somebody who had soured ou the world 
began to talk in a fault-finding, scornful, contemptuous way. 
He would let out on such a visitor with a vigor which was in- 
teresting to hear. 

The gentleness and tenderness toward the invalid wife 
were beautiful. The Senator was of powerful mold. He had 
bice]is like a blacksmith's. Sometimes when he went out in a 
hurry he slammed the door so that it could be heard from base 
ment to attic. But in the piesence of the frail wife and 



■4>) I jfc aud Character of Preston />. P/iiiii/>. 

inotlier tlie j^reat stmuj; man wms aiHitluT chaiactiT. His 
voice took on a tone unusual to those who only knew him in 
jinblic life. His movenuMits were subdncd and his manner in- 
describably delicate. His mental streujjtli was known ol' all 
men. The gooduess of his character wa.s not worn upon his 
sleeve. 



MANIFESTATION,'^ OF SOlMtOW IN" TOl'EKA. 

The funeral train ])asscd iVom Washington to Emporia by 
way of the I'ennsylvania, !\Iissouri Pacific, and At<'hison, 
Topeka and Santa Fc lines. Along the route everywhere were 
manifestations of love and resjject for the dead. At Kansas 
("ity the governor of Kansas and a large number of State 
otViccrs and other distinguished (utizens met the fnneral train, 
which was at once attached to a s])ecial train on the Santa Fe 
])i<i\ i(ii(l \i\ I I(iM. George K. IV'ck. \\ Lawrence an iniiiiriis(! 
throng had gathered at the station, a special demonstration 
l)eing made by the (hand Army posts of the city. 

Long before 10 o'clock a. m., December 2.j, the hour at 
which the funeral train was expected to arrive in Topeka, the 
.streets along the line <>f nianh nf Ilic fiunial cortege were 
lined with men. women, and cliiidren. eager ti)ol)tain a view of 
the solemn i)rocession. IJusiness houses on Kansas avenue 
were di-aped in mourning and many of them were elosed in 
resi)ect for the honored dead. The ])ublic schools were dis- 
missed, and the children tlocked to the Statehouse and soon 
crowded the steps and tilled the halls and corridors. Incoming 
trains brought large numbers of people from snrroundingtowns, 
who tilled the hotel lolibies and lieiped to swell the crowds on 
the streets. A feeling of i)roluund grief seemed to i>er\ade 
the community. 



Ccrc»i<uti(S ill 'fopika. 47 

Wlii'ii it was IciuiH'd that the t'mieral train was late, tlie 
crowd, rather than take any chanct' of inissinK' the ojipor- 
tunity of witiu'ssinu' the proeession. held its position on the 
street. The number steadily increased, until at noon it was 
next to impossible to move alont; the <lensely packed walks. 
It was 1 o'clock when the first }i'un was fired in the State- 
house Square aunouncinj.; the arrival of the train, and at inter- 
vals of every thirty seconds from that time until the procession 
had made its slow journey from the depot to the Statehouse 
the heavy detonation of the cannon was heard. 

After the arrival of the train the procession was fornu'd with 
little delay and the march to the capitol was taken up. 

Col. J. W. F. Hughes, chief marshal, and Chief of Police 
John Gardiner led the procession as it started from the station. 
Following them was a platoon of twelve Topeka policemen, 
commanded by Sergeant O'Eourke, and eighteen policemen 
from Kansas City, Kans., led by Capt. Porter. Marshall's 
military band, playing the "Dead "Maich in Saul,'' followed; 
and next were the Kniglits Templar, sixty strong and in full 
uniform. The next in line were eighteen veterans, the little 
remnant of Col. Plumb's old regiment, the Eleventh Kansas. 
Following them marched the Eoyal Arch ^lasous. Company 
C, of the Kansas National Guard, followed, with arms reversed. 

The honorary pallbearers, Hon. F. P. Baker, Judge F. G. 
Adams, ExGov. T. A. Osborn. Col. C. K. HoUiday, lion. 
George E. P<'ck, Judge J. P.. Johnsmi, Dr. S. E. Sheldon, and 
Dr. M. O'Brien, were next in line. 

The burial car, tlrawn by four black horses heavily draped, 
followed. The active pallbearers, eight in number, marched 
on either side. They were: Hon. J. K. Hudson, Maj. William 
Sims, Col. -Toel lluntoon. Judge John Martin, Judge John 
Guthrie, Capt. C. M. Foulks, Frank P. ^MacLennan. and S. P. 
Wade. 



48 Life auii Character of Preston />'. Plumb. 

Tlic fuiiunitti't' tr(»iii tlie Nalidual ('()iiy:ress followed in car- 
riajri's. 

Tlic four Ci. A. W. posts of Tojioka inarched in line, with 
Liiicidn post No. 1 leailinji'. Tli(',\- wcic fidhiwcd by Ohl Abi> 
raini>. Sons of Yoterans. 

Till' pioiession was one ol' the lun^i'st ever scimi in 'i'lipciia. 
and altlioujih the particii)ants niarche<l in close order the 
head of tlie ])rocessi(m had readied Sixtli street before the 
last carriage left the dejwt. 

Thousands gatlu'red abont tlie Statehnuse as the procession 
ueared the end of its journey and a deep silence fell over the 
vast crowd as the ])allbearers with lieiitle liands bore the 
casket up the steps of the eapitnl l)uildin}; into the senate 
chamber. Topeka ciiiiiniaiidery Knights Templar had jire- 
ceded them and as the jiallbearers appeared with their burden 
the knights wi-re drawn ii]i in two columns on either side of 
the catafahpie njioii which the cisket was deiiositcd. The 
pallbearers took a parting \i<'w of I lie ilead and [lassed out the 
near exit. The comniil tees ol" Senators and Representatives 
])assed through the chamber and after a short lest were con- 
veyed to their hotel. The jjublic was then aduutted to tiie 
senate chamber and it is estimati'd that fully ir),0(H» iteo]de 
(•ast a jiarting glance at tln' dciid Senator's face during the 
three lioirrs following. 

When the time ai'rived to continue the mourului journey to 
Ml. i'H'jm's old home many thousands more massed about 
the entrauces to the senate chanibei- and in the grounds sur- 
rounding the capitol. At ."> o'clock the casket was returned 
to the sjiecial Santa Fe train, aicompanied by the jirocession. 
which re-formed in its original order and iiiarihed soleninl.v 
back to the railway station. The casket having been icplaicd 
in the funeral car the train resume<l its jonriiey. 



Obscqitif^ at Eiiiporicx. ■!!> 



OBSEQUIES AT EMPORIA. 

Thesi)eeial train a rrivt-d in Emporia at 6:50 o'clock, Decem- 
ber 2;3. The hearse was phiced at the northwest corner of the 
depot and the members of the G. A. R. in Emporia formed 
in double lines from the hearse to the car containing the re- 
mains. Company E, Kansas National Guard, was also formed 
on the platform. 

The (i. A. R. members and old soldiers, under command of 
r. S. Domm, numbered three hundred, which, with Company 
E and the citizens and a committee from the Kniglits Templar, 
made fully three thousand people at the depot. A detail of 
the survivors of Col. Plumb's old regiment, the Eleventh Kan- 
sas, in charjjse of Lieut. W. V. Phillips, was made up as fol- 
lows : Messrs. John Logan, Noah Gibson, John Ferren, Thomas 
Barber, B. F. Parker, Chris. Wise, J. G. Schoeck, N. Ryno, J. 
A. Newliu, and Isaac Newall. These ten men were the only 
members of Col. Plumb's regiment residing in Lyon County. 
The remaining sirrvivors arrived later. 

The procession was then formed, under the direction of Chief 
Marshal Col. J. M. Steele„in the following ordei: 

G. A. R. Department Commander T. McCarthy and staff, 
constituted as follows: A. R. Greene, senior vice-commander; 
J. L. Spencer, junior vice-commander; A. B. Campbell, ad- 
jutant-general; Henry Booth, quartermaster-general: (i. F. 
Little, judgeadvocate-geueral; N. E. Harmon, department 
chaplain; T. B. Gerow, chief of staff; and also A. Reynolds 
and R. H. Campbell, members of the council of administration. 
J. P. Worrell, of Larued, was the color-bearer. Then came 
S. Mis. 228 4 



50 Life and Character 0/ Preston B. Plumb. 

« 
tilt' licarsc. drawn by two wliit<' horses, with iiostillioiis at their 

heads. The •ruard of honor and detail fruni the Eleventh 
Kansas, as mentioned ahove, walked on either side of the 
hearse, which was followed by Mayor Biddle, D. W. Eastman, 
J. M. C.riffith, Dr. Jaeobs, .1. L. W. Hell, T. E. MeMillan, and 
Samuel Emmons. Next came carriages containing the Sen- 
atorial committee, the House eommittee, and other officials. 
Following the carriages came the three hundred Grand Army 
of the I{ei)ublic members and "Id soldiers. Then came Com- 
pany E, Kansas National (hiard, under command of Capt. W. 
r. ^Yilcox, followed by citizens in carriages and on foot. 

On reaching the family residence the chief marshal and stall' 
ami veterans formed lines on either side of the walk leading 
to the south door of the house. The detail of survivors then 
carried the remains of their comrade to the entrance and de- 
posited the casket in the liall, where the face of tlie dead 
Senator was uncovered to enable his sorrowing friends and 
comrades to look upon the features now composed in death. 
As the members of the Eleventh Kansas looked into the calm 
and (piiet face, hot tears came unbidden from their eyes. 
Slowly and reverently the friends departed, leaving the re 
mains at the house under a guard detailed from the Grand 
Army of the ReiJublic. This detail was eomitosed chietly of 
the survivors of Col. I'HJMls's regiment, who, tliougli in many 
cases advanced in years or broken in health, begged the privi- 
lege of being assigned to this duty, and all night long did as 
soldiers do, regardless of the bitter winter weather. One of 
these brave old soldiers was asked late at night if he would 
not like to be relieved, "No," hi» said, '-tlieie would be no 
trouble about getting relieved. .Vllt lie boys want to come." 
Another, Mr. Evan Davis, who had been ati immediate attache 
of Col. Plumb through the war. led the Senator's horse in the 
procession, and was jjciiiiitted, at liis urgent re(|uest, to do all 



Ol'st(/iiics at Emporia. 51 

tlie masonry work in iiroparinji' tlie ,i;rave. Every old associ- 
ate of the Senator's in the hard years of the war and before 
seemed to mourn as for tlie loss of a brother. Samuel INIiddle- 
ton, the Senator's valet in Washinj;tou, was inconsolable. In 
short, those who knew him most closely uioumed him most 
deeply. 

The private funeral services at the family home began a few 
moments after 10 o'clock December I'i. The casket was sur- 
rounded by beautiful floral offerings. On one side of it was 
an elaborate tloral ladder. The upfiermost round of the ladder 
was surmounted by two white doves, their wings extended as 
if hovering over the spirit of the departed. The father and 
family of the decease<l, with the families of George and A. W. 
Plumb, brothers of the late Senator, were seated in this par- 
lor. The intimate friends and Senatorial commiutees were in 
the parlor adjoining on the north. The hall was also occu- 
pied by friends. The ministers were seated at the doors 
separating the two parlors. The choir, consisting of Mes- 
dames Charles Harris and .T. C. Penny and Messrs. T. H. 
Lewis and Charles Fletcher, sang the opening hymn, which 
was followed by the scriptui-e lesson read by Rev. S. A. Norton, 
pastor of the First Congregational Church of Emporia. 

Rev. Richard Cordley, of Lawrence, then made a short 
address, in which he dwelt upon the loss sustained by the 
nation, State, county, city, and particularly the family, in the 
death of one who had so endeared himself to the people he 
represented. Special reference was made to the sterling 
worth, al)ility, and energy of the deceased. The one spot 
dearest to him was his home, and to the family the blow comes 
with redoubled force. Friends sympathize deeply, but can 
not allay the grief. Dr. Coixlley closed his touching and elo- 
([uent remarks l)y commending the spirit of the deceased to 



52 Life and Characlcr of Preston />'. Pliintb. 

the Fleavfiily FathiT ami the iiu-iuber.s i)f tlie family to the 
providence of Ciod. The choir then sang -Jesus, Lover of My 
Soul." Dr. Curilley followed in a l)rief hut heartfelt prayer. 
The choir then .sang "Abide With Me," and the services were 
over. The curtains were then drawn in the ]>arh)rs and tlu' 
relatives were let't alone with the ileail. 

Outside ihe house a \ast tlirong was congrc^i.itcd. l''ortj' 
nuMidjers of the Knights Templar in uniform, under ct)mniand 
of (". \V. Clea\ er. were fornuMl in line on either side of the walk 
from the .south entrance to the curbing. The i)allbearers 
conveyed the remains to the hearse, which was drawn liy four 
black horses, all ilraped with heavy black nettings. The wheels 
weie made solid in black crape and the body of the hear.se was 
covered with drapings of black and white crape. The proces- 
sion was formed under the direction of Chief Marshal Col. J. 
M. Steele and Chief Aide E. F. Sprague. and reatdu'd to the 
First Congregational Church, the liand ])laying a niagnili<'eiit 
funeral number. 

At the church the renmins were given a position near the 
the altar. As the pallbearers and Congiessional committee 
mai-ched into the (diurch with the remains the organist, Prof. 
AVill Davi.s, |)layed a sidemn dirge. 

The remains were deposited in front of the altar ami there 
formally delivered to the Knights Tcni])lar. They at once took 
charge and the sorrowing throng were permitted to take a limil 
look at the face .so familiar to them, but now composed in the 
sleej) of death. From 11 until '1 o'cdock the remains were 
kept in state and tlnpusands nt jk-djiIc troiii the city. Lyon 
County, and all parts t»f the State passed through the cliurch 
ami viewed the remains of the citizen, .soldier, and statesman. 

While the morning .services were going on sjiecial trains 
from the various parts of the State brought many visitors to 
the city who came to pay the last sad tributes of respect. 



Obsajitns at /uiipon'a. 53 

Over Kill prominent citizens came from Wicliita. ir>() came 
in on tlie Missonri, Kansas and Texas noon train from tlie 
noitli, ami a greater number came in on a special over the 
same road from tlie south. Governor Humphrey aud State 
officers and friends, numbering over 200, came in at noon from 
Topeka in a special train. Tlie Grand Army of the Kepublic 
posts and the Sons of Veterans from Hartford, Reading, Strong 
City, Americus, Admire, and ueigbboring cities, Mitli other 
visitors, added to the already large number present, made at 
the least calculation 10,000 visitors in the city. 

Long before tlie hour appointed for the services the street 
and sidewalks in the vicinity of the churcli were crowded with 
Iieople. At l:-45 Department Commander (hand Army <if the 
Keimblic T. McCarthy and staff marched to the church. 
They were followed by the members of the Graud Army of the 
llepublic and old soldiers, and later by Governor Humphrey 
aud staff; also, by Chief Justice llorton. Judge Valentine, 
Suiireme Court Commissioners Simpson, Green, and Strang, 
Hon. (ieorge T. Authony, Hon. A. II. Greene, Hon. J. H. ^Ic- 
Bride, superintendent of insurance, and jnembers of the sen- 
ate and house of representatives. Upon airiving at the 
church the various delegations remained standing wliile the 
family and relatives were escorted to seats in front of the 
casket. Then the general public was admitted, and in a, few 
moments both the main room and lecture room were crowded 
and an immense crowd was congregated about the church and 
grounds. 

The altar and platform were laden with a profusion of floral 
offerings from various organizations and friends. On the left 
stood an easel festooned with flowers surmounted by an Ameri- 
can eagle. It is impossible to enumerate the various forms of 
offerings and evidences of esteem, as seen in the floral tributes. 
Promptly at li o'clock Eev. John Jones, Rev. Dr. Cordley, Rev. S. 



54 Life attd Cln^ractcr of Preston B. Pliinib. 

A. Norton, ami \\v\. IkTuaril Kelly took seats on the rostrum 
and the services openeil with an anthem sun;; by the same 
choir thai rcuilt-rcil the niiisit at tlic mornini^ service. Dr. 
Cordley read a scripture les.sou, followed by the sinyiufr of the 
Lymn, '■ In the Cross of Christ I {jlory.'' 

Kev. Mr. Norton led in a fervent prayer, after whicli the 
hymn '"At Evening Time Let Tlurc be Liyiit "' wa- suuji. l>r. 
Cordley, of Lawrence, then delivered the following; funeral 
sermon : 

'•Tlie life of Senator Pn'Mi? reads like a romance. With (inly 
a common scliiiul education, he learned the printers" trade and 
entered a printing otlice in Ohio. At the age of 18 he came to 
Kansas, in 1M5G. Kan.sas was then in its beginnings and in 
the throes of the great antislavery contest. The next year, 
boy as he was, he helped to organize a town company, w hich 
laid and fostered what is now one of our most enterprising 
towns, this goodly city of Emporia. To his wonderful fore- 
sight and energy Emporia largely owes her remarkable success. 
Without ever having had a full law-school education he com- 
menced the practice of law at the age of 21 and showed that 
which would iiave made him shine in the legal profession. 
Without any military training ho became a colonel in the Army 
at the age of 2G and led his regiment with .skill and credit to 
the end of the war. He tiien entered the political lield. and 
at the age of 29 was speaker of the house of representatives 
in the Kansas State legislature. In 1877, at the age of 38. he 
was elected to the T'nited States Senate. Thus iu twenty 
years a jjoor l)oy. without education or fortune or influential 
friends, had risen to nu-mbership of the ablest, most cultured, 
and intluential body in the United States. 

"Tims far one might say tlu-re was notliing siieeially strange. 
Kansas was a new Commonwealth, just planted on the open 



Obsequies at E»iporia. 55 

prairies. All tlio p('()])li' were iicwcitmcrs, as a matter of 
course, aud most of them were beuiiiiicrs in life and youini' in 
years. Mr. Plttmb was ww with the icst. 

" It was m-cessary that soiiif nl' these shouhl i;ii lo thr front 
and occupy the positions whicli the cominj;- in of a new State 
had created. In .n'oing to tlic Senate he simply came out fiom 
among' his peers to take a position which souu^ of them must 
take. But when he entered the Senate he became the associate 
of men 'to the manner born;" men for whom the best schools 
had done their best; meu whose entire life had been spent 
amid cultureil surroundings aud stinmlatiug iuflueuces; meu 
who liad traveled and seen the world; meu of large gifts and 
long experience. The marvelous thing is that in such a body 
this youug nuin from the wild x>i'nii'ies of the west should at 
once step to the frcmt aud become oue of its most influential 
and honored members. He was felt at ouce as a man offeree, 
and every year's service has increased his power. Hewou the 
respect aud esteem of all parties, and his judgment was sought 
on all sides. Few men in the Senate had larger influence or 
could accomplish uiore in the couucils of that body. So fully 
had he satisfied all classes and so fair hail he been in all his 
actions that at the last election to his third term every vote 
cast in both houses of the State legislature was in his favor. 

"We have not far to look for the secret of his marvelous 
success. The first element of his power was his clear judicial 
mind. He always comprehended the situation at a glance. 
The moment a ipu'stion was stated his miiul grasped it and 
leajM-d to the solution. Whether it were a question of business 
or iiublic policy or of social life, he saw the vital point with the 
immediateness of iustiuct. At a glance all mists disappeared 
aud all entanglements were unraveled aud the solutiou was 
instantly seized. It is no wonder such a man should be con- 
stantly sought for by those who were puzzled in their afi'airs 



■56 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 

i>r wliK were striijjgliug willi emuplieated questions tliey could 
imr solve. 

■• I liave watclieil him wlicii lie was at home for a thiy («• two 
of rest, as he ealled it. I would liiid him in the oflicc at the 
bank with a score or so of men waiting to see him. Every 
one's case was difl'erent. Kirst it was a man who had some 
business to transact with him; then it wuuld be a man who 
wished to consult liim on the political situation; then it would 
be an old soldier whose pension case had become tangled up 
in some way in the departnuMit; then it would be a tale of 
.sorrow calling for sympathy: tiicn it wniild l)e a case of want 
calling for charity. So they <-aine to him one after another, 
and when these were gone others were waiting their turn. 
He received all witii the same patient cordiality and listened 
to each with tile same interested attenliun. When the case 
of each was stated he seemed to grasp it instantly and his 
response always scciiumI exactly to meet tlie case. As I have 
watched him thus listening i)aticiitly to one case after am)ther, 
hunr alter liour. all day long, while he was at home "resting," 

I wondered how long a man could endure a strain like that 
or whether his mind was .so constituted that it was no strain. 

••There was another (juality in Senator I'li'.MH's character 
whicji perhaps had nuire to di> with his success than his clear 
and rapid judgment, lie always did the thing that came to 
him ami always did it at (Mice. In a si)eech lu; made here 
years ago, I heard him tell what lie considered the secret of 
Emi)oria's success, ami it has oi curi-ed to me since that he was 
unconsciously telling the secret of his own success, lie said: 
•In our early growth here in Emporia we always took in what- 
ever was ottered, whether it was just what we wanted or not. 

II it was a small thing that ott'ei-ed, we took it, hoping it might 
be liietiist iiistalliiicnt uf something larger, i'ln- lirst lail- 
road that oll'ered itself did not seeuL to amount to much. But 



0^>st(/tt/fs al J-'ii/f)i>n'a. 57 

we took it ill, and liicii tlic Santa Fc railway canu^ We never 
let a small tliiiii; .^n. hoping for a larucr tliiiii;.' That, I think, 
describes Senator Pl^rMi! in the nietliods of his own service. 
Ht' never ue.niected what lay liefoie him, in anticipation of 
something larger by and by. He was not all the while wait- 
ing for some great o|ii(ortunity or saving himself for some 
great occasion. We never read that Senator Pht:mb could 
not be seen by his constituents because he was preparing a 
great speech on some national theme. lie met each occasion 
as it came, and it mattered not whether the occasion were 
large or small. He did that which came to him and did it at 
ouce. Anything that coucenied his constituents concerned 
him and any man that had a case could always get a hearing. 
He was working for his constituents all the while, for small and 
great, of all classes and all localities. No old soldier with a 
good case ever went to him and failed to enlist his sympathy, 
and to enlist Lis synii)athy meant to win, for lie made eacli 
case his own and jiressed it to a conclusion. The disi)atches 
say he had over 0,000 i)eusiou cases before the De])artmeut. I 
venture the assertion that he knew the nature of e^'ery case 
and was personally pressing each one to an issue. 

" I had a friend in Lawrence who went into the army. At 
the close of the war he was broken in health. He applied for a 
pension, but on aci'ount of missing links in the evidence it was 
delayed for many years. A few years ago the missing evi- 
dence was supplied and a pension was granted him. But 
when granted it was a mere pittance. He was now totally 
disabled. He could just walk about, but his limbs were so 
shaken of palsy that he could not even feed himself. He was 
the most complete jihysical wreck I ever saw. Some three 
years ago he told me his tale and asked me if I could not help 
him to get an increase of iieusion. He was certainly entitled 
to a full pension if any man ever was entitled to one. His case 



•')> Lih and Character of Pnsloii />. Plumb. 

was clear and his testimoiix adniittt'd. lint his attorneys at 
Washington iiept making liini costs, Imt did not advance his 
case. It did not seem as if they cared to help him. I heard 
the iKjnr old soldier's story with mingled i)ity and indignation. 
1 told him I thonght 1 knew a way to reach his case. 1 wrote 
to Senator I'LUMii and laid the case before him. He wrote me 
at once for some facts hj- which he conld identify the case 
anionu the thipusauds on lilcat tlic dcpartnicni. In an incredi- 
bly short time I met the old .soldier, and he told me he had 
just received an increase to his pension making it ample for 
bis need. This is but one of many cases I have myself i>er 
sonally known. I n('\-tT wmtc him unless I had a good ca.se 
and I never laid a case before him but betook it uji at once 
ami pressed it to a successful issue. As Ex-Senator Ingalls 
said: • He wanted results rather than dreams, and cared less 
foi- distinction and fame than for success and power.' So 
heartily did he espouse the soldier.s' cause and so successfully 
did he contend for it that he well deserves to share with John 
A. Logan the title of the .soldiers' friend. 

'• It has been said that his marked characteristic wa> his 
cai>acity for work. lint many people have a capacitj' for work 
and unlimited endurance who yet accomplish little. Mr. 
Plumb rather had a marvelous capacity to make his work tell. 
He always did the effective thing. He could do more things 
:inii make Iheni all cuine to tiuie than any man I e\'er knew. 
He had the faculty of finding the .spring that moved the whole 
affair. He would accomplish by the turn of a hand what 
anotlier might worry ovei' for a ilay. This was his gi'eat 
temjitation to overwork. A man who can effect so much every 
time he moves is desperately tempted to keep moving. When 
with so slight an effort he could do so much he could not albud 
to stand still. And it doubtless was an inspiration to see 
things dispatched by a touch so slight or a word so easily 
uttered. 



Obsequies at E»ipoyia. 59 

"Of bis personal it'li.iiious views I do not tliinlv lie often spoke. 
But lie was a liiin believer in the (Jhristiau faith and all it 
ini]ilied. He always spolce of religious thinf;s witli the utmost 
respeet aud revei'euee. I never heard of liim sjieakinn li.i;litly 
of sacred things in any eireunistaiices or eompany. He lie 
lieved in ehurehes andrejoieed in their jirosperity aud j^rowth. 
"When the elders of the Jews would coninieud the centurion to 
Jesus they j^ave as evideuce of his worthiness that 'lie had 
built them a synago.nue.'' Kansas is (hitted <iver with churches 
which Senator I'luiub has helped to build. He was called 
u]ion from all [larts of the St;ite, aud he never refused a call 
from a needy church. It is said that one of the last acts of his 
life was to answer an ajipeal from a church in western Kan- 
sas. There is not a church in this city which has not received 
largely from his bounty. He was the warm friend of Christian 
education. When it was proposed to locate here a Christian 
college he was among the first to advocate and urge the proj- 
ect. He was one of the earliest friends of the College of 
Emporia and aided it largely by both voice and purse. 

"I have in mind two scenes which occurred in this house. 
One was when the house itself was being dedicated. We 
needed a certain amount of money to relieve us from embar- 
rassment. It seemed as if we should fall short. But an in- 
spiring word fri.ni him electrified the audience and changed 
the -whole aspect of affairs and the thing was done. The other 
scene was at our communion season one .Sunday afternoon. A 
large number were to unite with the church, among them two 
of his own children. He had planned to be at home that day 
aud came with them and sat with them during the service. 
The glow of interest which lighted up his face as the vows of 
Christian consecration were uttered is a picture that still 
abides in my memory aud plainly showed he was not a mere 
spectator. 



60 Life and Character of Preston H. I'himb. 

••Only once was it my good fortune to meet him when the hmil 
was oil'. Two or tliree years ago we eUaiicrd to luixe ap- 
pointments the same night in one of our interior towns. The 
next miu-ning, after his work was done, he had to wait for a 
train to take liim to another place. We were together with a 
few friends whih- we were waiting. For that hour lie had all 
the fharuiing ease of a man that had not a care in the world. 
and, in the free (day of his unliurdened nuud, thought and in- 
(•i(h'nt and humor made the time pass rapidly and (Udightfully. 
lie was many sided as well as intense and etVeetive. lie 
could adajit himst-li' to occasions and suit the humor of tlie 
time. He had a marvelous fund of iiiformatioa on all practical 
themes ami could throw on any sulijeet the light of anecdote 
and rare bits of knowledge he had gathered here and there as 
he came along. 

•So it is that his career reads like a romance. \Yithout 
.schools he yet became educated; without stopping to learn, he 
yet absorbed as he moveil a'ong a mass of infoiniaiion which 
made him an authority on all practical topics; without training 
in any line of service he yet becanu- one of the most effective of 
men in law, in finance, iu politics, and iu statesmanship; with- 
out early adv.iiitages he yet became the peer of men on whom 
schools and cultured surroundings and travel had poured 
their richest gifts. 

-This is no ordinary mourning. All the pe ii)le mourn, for he 
was emphatically the people's friend. lie was not only kindly 
disposed towards the people, but he was one of them, and he 
knew their burdens an<l their conllicts and their sorrows. 11.' 
cmild symi)athi/ce, with an intelligent symiiathy which knew 
its own meaning and understood its own grounds. It was no 
])olitical pretension when he manifested his love for the iieople. 
lie believed in the iieople and he knew their si)irit and their 
needs. The people are the mourners to day. There is all 



O/'st'ijiiifs at Emporia. 61 

about tlie sense of a i;'i'e=^t sorrow and also tlie sense of a 
<;reat loss. As was saiil of tlie lCgyi>tians as they were iiKuirn 
iiig; for Jaeob, ' this is a grievous mourning' for the people of 
Kansas. Not in the cities and eenters alone, but in the vil 
lages and in the cabins, 'far out upon the prairie,' tliere is a 
.sense of bereavement and loss. 

" It is very sad to tliink how many of our greatest men have 
fallen in the jirimc of life, when the best was yet to be hoped 
of them. What a galaxy of bright names the record of the 
last few years contains, and all stricken in their ])rinie. And 
Kansas has had her full share of this c()mm()u sorrow. Even 
after these years no true Kansan can tliink without iiain of 
Dudley Haskell, at tlie age of 41, closing a career whose promise 
no man could measure. And now the man whose ])ractical 
■wisdom and untiring energy had lifted liiin to greatness is cut 
down in the very ripening of his powers. He had come to 
stand for Kansas, the product and symbol of her history. 
'■Ail (istra 2ier nspera'' could be written of him as of her. We 
had come to look to him and rely upon him in a rare degree as 
our representative and our hope. There is a sense of orphanage 
today in all the hamlets and homes of Kansas and they will 
remember him and mourn for him many days. 

" 1 do not forget, however, that there are nearer circles into 
the sacredness of whose sorrow I dare only glance. For there 
is not only a bereaved people, but there is also a stricken home. 
No man loved his home more than Mr. Plumb. Though he 
constantly touched so large a circle of intense and living inter 
ests, there was a center to his life where his intensest interest 
and warmest alit'ections dwelt. His public duties did not allow 
him often to be at home, but his home was his delight and his 
children were his joy and jiride. 

''This great sorrow, so wide extended and so universal, has 
its focus at the home. That home is no less stricken because 



62 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 

the State is also strii'kcn. and its sorrow is uo less keen and 
over\vlieliniii{^ l)eeaiise the State also shares it aud bears it. 
1 dare not iiuiltii)ly words on a theme so personal aud so saered. 
No human words cau avail in a sorrow so deep. I ean only 
commend this stricken hon.sehohl to -the (lod ot all comfort. 
Who comfortetli us in all our tribulations.*" 

The sermon concluded. IJev. Bernard Kelly offered a fervent 
prayer. 

The closinj; hymn. •• Lead. Kindly Light," was then sung, 
which concluded the exercises at the church. 

Mrs. Plum!) was not at the church services, but went with 
the family to the cemeterj-. 

Here the services were conducted by lion. T. McCarthy, com- 
mander Department of Kansas, Grand Army of the Republic, 
escorted by Posts .").! and 404 and accompanietl by Aisiting 
comrades and old soldiers not members of the Grand Army of 
the Itcpublic in tlic following or<ler: 

Marshal aud staff, mounted. 

Band. 

Kansas National (ruard. 

Department commander and staff'. 

Posts of Grand Army <il I lie Republic and old soldiers. 

Sons of Veterans. 

Pallbearers in carriages. 

Hearse, with Eleventh Kansas marching on each side. 

Horse and e<iuipments of deceased. 

Family, in carriages. 

Knights Templar. 

Senatorial and House committees. 

Governor and staff, in carriages. 

Visitors and citizens, in carriages. 

As chief marshal. Col. J. M. Steele was assisted li.v tlie 
following aids: 10. V. Sjirague, D. W. Eastman, J. L. W. 



RiSdiiilioiis of Respect. 63 

Bell. J. G. Traylor, W. V. Phillips, W. II. Gilchrist, Charli's 
Fletcher, B. P. lUiiner, Joseph Ilickabaugh, EI. W. Hufifinan. 
Ill the above order tlic luiieral proeessioii took up the line 
of inarch to the cfiiieterv, where the beautiful ritualistic service 
of the Grand .Vriiiy of the Kei)ul)li<' was read by the Depart- 
ment Coininauder and the Departineut Chaplain X. E. Harmon, 
after which the earth received all that was mortal of the late 
Senator, and slowly the sorrowing friends returned to their 
respective homes. 



KESOLUTIONS OF RESPECT. 

THE STATE XOIOIAL SCHOOL. 

At a regular meeting of the board of regents of the State 
Normal School, December 22, 18'Jl, the following resolutions 
were unanimously adopted: 

••Whereas we to-day mourn the loss of an esteemed friend 
and a distinguished fellow-citizen, the Hon. Peeston B. 
Plumb, wli(»se sudden death brings gloom and sorrow to our 
whole Commonwealth; and whereas he has ever been the 
stanch friend and liljeral supjiorter of every institution which 
might conduce to the advancement, the enlightenment, and 
the ha])piness of the people; and whereas the State Xormal 
School has had many occasion.? to bless his bounty and to re- 
joice in his interest and friendship: 

"i>e (7 resolved, That as members of the board of regents of 
the State Normal School we desire in this formal way to express 
oiu' profound appreciation of his sterling character as a man, 
of his iiol)le record as a citizen, and of his great services as a 
representative of our State. 

''Resolved, That we shall ever cheri.sh bis name and career as 
worthy the emulation of every citizen of the liepublic. The 



64 Life and Character of Preston />'. Plitmh. 

I.urity of his i)ublic life, tin- tlevotimi witli wliicli he scrvt'd 
the interests of the wliulc pciiik'. his uiiswerviiiu titlclity to 
principle, the universal esteem in wliich he was lield l)y all 
parties, the attainment of so exalted a positi«m in the eouncils 
of the nation, mark him as a splendid example of the possi- 
bilities of this privilep-*! land. 

''Resnh-iil. That the liajj lie idaced at Iialf mast and that the 
buildinjr he a])propriately drai)ed. 

^- h'cxolrcd That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the 
bereaved family, to whom we tender our heartfelt sympathy; 
that a coi)y be furnished each of the city papers, and that 
they lie spread in full iti)oii the niiiuites of this board." 



THK SEfONl) PRKSmTKKIAN rniKCU. 

On Sunday, December 20, 18<tl, at the close of the evening 
services, the Second Presbyterian Church of Enqioria unani- 
mously passed the followiufr resolutions: 

^^Rcsolred, That we acUnowlcdfic tin- hand of ilic Lord, who 
giveth us all things and who taketh away, and in His wise 
providence that it is He who hath taken from us (mr dear friend, 
the Hon. Pkf.ston R. 1'hmb. 

'^Resolred, That it seems to us iliat his (h^ath is a great loss 
to the (Mmntry at large, to the State of Kansas, and in partic- 
ular to Kniporia. but most especially to his beloved family. 

'■hi'solriil. That we extend our most sincere and heartfelt 
sympathy to Mr.s. Plumb, and her beloved children, and all 

relatives. 

^'Resolred, That, in consideration of his always open, hcljiing 
hand toward our church and our high esteem for our departed 
friend, luir pulpit be drajied in mourning for thirty days. 

'■'Rt:xolvcil, That tiie i)astor do iu)w at the close of this serv- 
ice read aloud tlie 1 Kith Psalm, and th;il the congi c.uMtinn 



Resolutions of Respect. 65 

join in tiiruiiiii' iiiilo the Lord ;iiiil oti'criiijj prayer iii behalf of 
tlie l)eieaved family, tliat they may liavc grace and streiifjjth 
to uphold them iu this the hour of tlieir great trial and deep 
sorrow. 

"(Signed for the church) 

"John Jones, Pantor. 
"L. W. Lewis, Sccntari/." 



THE COLLEGE OF EMPORIA. 

The faculty of the College of Emporia desire to uidte with 
their fellow citizens of the Commonwealth of Kansas in ex- 
pressing their sense of the grave loss that has befallen the 
State in the death of our distinguished Senator, Hon. Peeston 

B. PLU3IB. 

We share in tlie general appreciation of his splendid talents, 
his devotion to duty, his tireless zeal in meeting the responsi- 
bilities of office, his ever enlarging ])atriotism, and his large- 
hearted liberality. 

We gratefully put on record the fact that he presided at the 
first public meeting held in this city in behalf of this institu- 
tion. His persuasive arguments decided others to adopt his 
own views. His name was first on the roll of contributors 
and his gift was the largest. He was a member of the first 
board of trustees. His hand laid the corner stone of Stuart 
hall. He gave generously every year to the Anderson library. 

For these and other reasons we deem it timely to adopt the 
following resolutions as expressing tlie sentiments of this 
faculty : 

(1) That in the death of Senator Plumb the State is called 
10 mourn the loss of her foremost citizen. 

(li) That his name and the memory of the invaluable services 
he rendered the State and nation deserve to be tenderly en- 
shrined by the entire Commonwealth of Kansas 

S. Mis. lii's .5 



66 Life and Character of Preston />. Plumb. 

(3) Tliat his f,feiicn>as ami ipioiiiipI suip|Kiit of tlie higher 
liberal t'diuratioii as t'lubrai-ed in tin- lUiriculuin of tliis college 
ihallciijrt's our lasting gratihidc. 

(t) That tiio Hag of Stuart hall be suitably ilraiifd and the 
eolk'gc bell tolled during the fuiu ral services. 

{7i\ That our heartfelt synijiathybe tendered the sorely smit- 
ten household, each of wlmni \\ e teliilci ly coimueiid to the (lod 
of all grace and com tort. 

College of Emporia, Devtmbir 2S, 1891. 



TllK KAN.*<AS STATK SENATE. 

Toi'i:ivA, 1\ \.\s., Drvvmlur 31. 

A si)ecial train bearing the Kansas State .senate left this 
city at in o'clock this niorning for lOiniJoria. 

Resolutions were adopted last night at the < "opciand whicii 
will be spread ui)on the senate journal. They follow: 

" Retiolred, That in common with all the people of the State 
of Kansas we deepl.v rnuiun the loss of our senior Senator, the 
Hon. I'liESTON li. I'H'MB. whom the allwi.se Creator, in His 
infinite wi.sdom, has seen tit to call from our midst. 

•' Kenolrcd, That in his death the State of Kansas loses a citi- 
zen whose life since tlic oigaiii/.ation of Kansas as a 'I'erritory 
and during its exi.stence as a State has been closely ideiitilied 
with its growth and development, and a man whom the State 
has be(Mi ph-ased to honor, and who. in return, by his eminent 
services in public and jirivate life, has conferncl lioiKir u|Hin 
the State. 

•'Resolved, That while the life of the .soldier, statesman, and 
great commoner was so suddenly ilemanded at the very period 
of his ino.st stalwart manhood ami acknowledged usefulness, 
we can hut acci'pl tlic will nf the unseen power uliicli directs 
all things to 111-- linal honor and glors and which we have an 



Resoliifi(yis of Krsprct. 67 

abiding" laitli will work out this fjieat sorrow to the hlossiiig 
of the )M'o|)l('. 

••Jic.solrcd, Tliatour most profound syinpatliy is extended to 
tlu> gi'ief-strickeu wife iind ehilthTu of the dead .Senator; but, 
trustiug that they may be sustained l)y the promise of hope, 
wliieh begets peace, and that, aUhough the (h-ad husband and 
father fell in the midst of life's most exacting activities, we 
trust they may be comforted in the assiuauce that there must 
be, there is, a final recompense. 

'■^Resolved, That these resolutions be engrossed and a copy 
sent to the bereaved family." 



THE E5IPORIA CITY COTTNCIL PROCEEDINGS. 

( "OUNCIL Chamber, December 21, 1891. 

]\Ir. Fox moved that a committee on resolutions be appointed 
on the death of Senator PLUMB to rexjort during this meeting. 
The motion was adopted. 

The nmyor appoiiited Messrs. Fox, Bootey, and Ireland as 
such comnuttee and they at once reported the following reso- 
lution, which on motion of Mr. Ewing was unanimously 
adopted: 

" Whereas we are called upon to share in the grief and deep 
sense of loss which have come so suildenly and with such 
terrible force into every home and heart in this city in the 
death of Senator Preston B. Plumb: 

" Resolveil, That in the going-out of this noble life Emporia 
loses a stanch and firm friend, a citizen of unspotted char- 
acter, who in public life has by his unflinching courage and 
unfaltering devotion to right and truth commanded the lespect 
and admiration of the nation. 

^•Benoleed, While we unite with the State and the nation iu 
thus paying homage to the memory of our dead Senator we 



68 Life ami Character of Preston li. Plinub. 

tVcl i-siieiially "iir own loss as we rcnii'iiibci him as m-i<jhl)or 
and friend, devoted to the best interests of EiMiH)ria. his great, 
nohle heart always ready to rcsiioiid to genuine need. 

•' licxi'lriil, Tliat we extend to the stricken family onr most 
sincere condolence, as with them we bow in trnst to a I'rovi- 
dence we can not understand. 

'■ h'cmlvcd, That these resolutions be spread upon the records 
in the ollice of the city clerk and that a certihcd copy be for- 
warded to Mrs. Plund). 

"II. K. Fox, 

''K. .1. UOOTEY, 

"C. F. Ikelani). 

"U. S. Alexandeu. Citi/ Clerk." 



TUE EXECUTIVE COINCIL OF THE STATE OF KANSAS. 

At a meeting of the l-'.xcciitive Council of the State of Kan 
sas tlir I'ollowiiiu resolutions were aclopti-d: 

•• Dcatli loves a .shiiung mark," and its latest illustrious 
victim was the most useful and conspicuous citizen of Kansas. 

Senator Preston B. IM.fMH crowned his efforts in behalf 
of the nation, his State, and the |ieople with the glory of mar- 
tyrdom. He exhausted all his vital energies to meet his own 
sublime conce])tion of the duties of exalted i)ublic position. 
lie was the most devoted and laborious rei)reseutative that any 
peojde ever .sent to the National Capital. 

His love for his State, his pride in its liirtb, in its brilliant 
youth, in its military achievements, in its wonderfid growth, 
in its phenomenal deveIoi)nuMit. and in its marvelous produc- 
tion, were constantl\ in his mind, and linally l)c(ann' tlic law 
of his nature and t lie main inilini-iucni In liis own success aiul 
advancement. 

Any resident of Kansas could eonlidently .ippeal to and im 
plicitly rely on the assurance that no detail was too >mall. no 



A'fso/n/ioiis 0/ Kt split. (>}) 

(jiiestioii too hiri^c, no wrong so .s(ronj;ly intrciiclioa m jiower, 
but th;it tlic very best efforts ol'tlic Senator would be exerted 
in his heiialf. 

A jiTcat statesman, iu the flower of ffh)rions nianliood, in tiie 
enjoyment of a growing and widening fame tliat was reaciiing 
to all parts of the nation, in the full possession of matured 
powers, is suddenly strieken down, and a great State is bereft 
of liis wise guidance in public affairs and its citizens of the aid 
ot his helping liauds in all governmental de|)artments. 

Tlie great heart of the Commonwealth is bunlened with sor- 
row and all tlie good ])eoi)le mourn his death as a personal 
loss, and extend their heartfelt sympathy to the grief-stricken 
family of the man who loved the State as he loved them. 

Rcsolrcd, That the; Stateh(mse be draped in mourning, the 
iiatKmal flag be displayed at half mast, ami that the State 
officers wear mourning for thirty days. 

Lyman U. ITumpiirev, 

(rorcnior. 
William IIiggins, 

iSrcretari/ of i^fate. 
Chas. M. IlnvEY, 

Auditor of State. 
Solomon G. Stover, 

Tnasurcv <f iState. 
John N. Ives, 

AitornijiGenerul. 

(^EO. W. WiNANS, 

Superintendent of Public Instruction. 



PROCRHDINGS IN THH SENATE. 



ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH. 

In the 8ENATE, Februarij 18, 1892. 

Mi-. Peffeb. Mr. President, piusiuint to notice. \ offer the 
resolutioii.s whieh I send to the desk. 

The Vice-President. The resolutions will be lead. 

The Secretary read the resolntion.s, as follows : 

Resolnd, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
of the death of Preston 15. Pli'MB, late a Senator from the 
State of Kansas. 

Resolved, That as a mark of respect to the memory of the 
deceased the business of the Senate be now suspended to 
enable his associates to pay i)roper tribute of regard to his 
high character and distinguished i)nl)lic services. 

Rcsolrcd, Tliat tlie Secretary of the Senate communicate 
these resolutions to the House of Representatives. 

The resolutions were unanimously asfreed to. 



Address of Mr. Peffer, of Kansas. 

Mr. Peffer. :\Ii-. President, Preston B. Plumb was born 
in Delaware County, Ohio, Octolier ID, 1837. He had oidy a 
common-school education. At the age of 12 years he entered 
the office of the Western Episcopalian, at Gambier, Ohio, and 
learned the priuter.s' trade. In 18.33 he estabUshed the Xenia 

71 



72 Address of Mr. Pcffcr, of Kansas^ on the 

News and coiHluitctl it witli vi}.'or and success. At that time 
Rev. (iianville Moody, a distinfruishcd Methodist preachei and 
n-t'oriiici. was located at Xciiia. Mostly tVoni him younj,' Mr. 
I'HTMU iinbihed his hatred of huniau slavery. In lS5tJ, when 
the Kansas struj:j,'le was at its heijiht, one day he went into 
the News othce and said,'- I am jfoinj^to Kansas." •'When?'' 
was asked. "To-morrow."' he answered; and •• tomorrow " he 
started. The Kansas Tribune, printed at Topeka, on the 2L'd 
day ofOctobi-r of that year, records the arrival of Mr. Pt.UMB 
with a company of twenty-eijilit yoiin},' men. The winter fol- 
lowing ho spent ill Lawrcm-c and was loicmaii in tlic lliiald 
of l-"rcc(l(iiii inintiiifX oliice. 

In the spring- of IS.IT he and four others organized the Em- 
]>oria Town Comi)any, on the banks of the Neosho River, in 
the present county of Lyon. There he afterwards made lii.s 
peinianenr home. He was the active man of the company 
and soon established a newsi)aper, the Emporia News, which 
for a loiijf time was amonfi' the leadinj,' papers of the State. 
It was daring those early years when Mr. Tlumb was travel- 
ing over the trackless prairie one day an<l came to a home- 
steader's shanty. Tie went in and found a man down with 
small|)o.\. The few neighbors had become panic stricken and 
left the man alone to die. Pi.TJMH was so moved by the 
pitialde siieetacle that he al>aii(l(iiiecl liis jnuiiiey and stayed 
and nursed the poor man through his sickness. As a result 
he contracted the disease himself. 

lie took a iirofound interest in all the public aflfairs of the 
Teriitory and lie was fre(|iiently intrusted with grave resi>on- 
sibilities. He was a member of most of the conventions held 
to discuss the .situation. Among the preserved relics of those 
stirring times are several instruments of writing in which :\Ir. 
Plumb was pers(tnally interested. Here are tiuee of tiiem. 
No. 1 is a commission as superintendent of enrollment, issued 



Life and Clia racier »/ /'rcsfoi/ II. /'//niili. 7."? 

by Gi'u. . lames II. Laue and fuuiiter.sij;iR'(l by .M. F. Oomvay 
as aiijiitaiit-gcncial, dated .Inly LMI, 1857: 

Headquabteus Ivansa.s Voluntekks 
Fob tiik Protection of the Ballot-box, 

Ldwrciicc, July jji), 1857. 

Whereas Mie ix-ople df Kansas, in cimvention at Topeka, 
Jnly 15, 1857, did adopt the followiiii; lesohitioii : 

" Resolrcd, Tliat Gen. .lames H. Lane be appoiided by this 
convention and aiitlioiized tooiffanize the people in the several 
districts to protei^t the ballot-boxes at the approaching- elec;- 
tions in Kansas :"' 

Now, therefore, in pursuance of the antliority thus vested 
in me by the people of Kansas, F do hereliy constitute and 
appoint P. B. Plumb superintendent of enrollment, Fourth 
Brigade, Second Division. 

This appointment is conferred u])on P. B. Plttmb by virtue 
of contidence entertained by n'le in his patriotism and intepity, 
well knowinj;- that in his hands every duty appertaining to the 
aforesaid position will be faithfully dischai-ged 

Given at the office of the adjutant general this day. 

.1. II. Lane, (>r(i<tHizin<i. 

M. P. Conway, AdjuUint-Oincrdl. 

No. 2 is an apjiointment as aide-de camp, Decendjer 17, 1857: 

Headquartebs Kansas Militia, Dcctmhrr IT, isr,?. 
SiB: You are hereby notitied of your a])i)ointment as aide- 
de-camp to the uiajor-general, under the act entitled "An act 
for tlie organization and regulation of the militia," passed De- 
cember 16, 1857. 

.J. II. Lane, Mujor-dviuruJ. 

No. :? is a receipt peculiarly (•hara(;t(>ristic: 

Topeka, t^epiemhn- 37, 1859. 
Eeceived from Capt. Plumb, of the " Grizzlies," 7(] 5-inch 
Colt's revolvers for the four companies of Kansas emigrants 
under my command. 

Jas. Ix'edpath. 



74 Address of Afr. Pcffcr, of Kansas, on the 

Mi. I'LVMH be;;aii his n':il life wnrk on bloody f,'rouiiil. 
"VVhittier ^1858} wrote: 

From the hearths of their cahiuM. 

The fields of their coru, 
rnwarned ami mnvtaiioneil. 

The vii-tims were turn. 
• • • • • 

Wind slow from the Swan's Marsh, 

O dreary death-train, 
With pressed lipa as bloodless 

As lips of the slain. 

On the lintels of Kansas 
Tliat blood shall not dry. 

Heneefoith to the sunset, 

I'ucheckcd on her way, 
Shall Liberty follow 

The inarch of I lie ilay. 

During tbe.se active year.s Mr. I'LUilu .studied law and 
attended law lectures two terms in Clevelaud, Ohio. In 1861 
he was admitted to the liai and o|icnc(l a law office in Kmiioria. 
In 1862 he was elected to the lowci liou.se of the Legislature 
and was appointed reporter of the Supreme Court. During 
September of that year he raised two companies of volunteers 
fortlif i:ievcnili Kansas rej;imi-iit and entered the .service as 
second lieutenant. He was rapidly i)romoted to captain, major, 
and lieutenant-colonel. 

The regiment .saw some hard service before the end of the 
flr.st year, having been engaged in the battles of Cane Hill, 
I'rairie Grove, and others in simthwest Mis.souri and in Ar- 
kansas. After the closer of the war Mr. Plimb returned to 
Emporia and resumed the practice of law. He entered into 
partnership with Judge H. W. Ku-.i:!.- under the tirni name 



Life and ( 'haractrr of Preston />'. Plioiih. 75 

of Rug'jiles & I'liiml). The firm attrai'tcd wide attention at 
once and soon secuiod a larjic |nactice, covcrin}' tlie, whole 
State. In 186C \w was elected to the lower lionse of the Kan- 
sas Lcgishiture and was chosen speaker. About tli:it tiiin' ho 
began to lay the fonndatiou of his private tortnne. Tlie rai)i(l 
development of the conntry and the consequent rai)id advance 
in values created many opportunities for jirotitable investment 
and he seemed to know when and where to invest. He rarely 
made a mistake. At his suggestion some of his old Ohio 
friends established a bank in Enii)oria, and >[r. Plumb was 
chosen its president and manager in ISTli. In 1S77 lie was 
elected a membc}' of this body, where his lialiits of industry, 
his quickuess of perception, his breadth of view, and his per- 
sistence in effort soon brought him into merited ])romineuce. 

Mr. Plumb was married in 1867 to Miss ( 'arolino Southwick, 
of Ashtabula, Ohio, llis home was a delightful one. He en- 
joyed comfoit and eared nothing for display. While abun- 
dantly able to build a splendid residence, he preferred rather 
to live as his neighbors lived; and to-day there are many 
dwellings in I'^mporia more costly and more showy than his. 
He took great i)ri<le in the education and training of his 
children. He was with them as much as his active life per- 
mitted. Hi' availed himself of e\ery ojiportuuity to add to 
the pleasure and enjoyment of his family. He leaves his wife 
and hve children: Mary, Amos, Putli, ("arrie, and Preston. 

From his early youth he had strong religious convictions, 
but he never ct)nnected himself with any church. He was the 
friend of everything good and fostered all elevating iutlneuees. 
When at home he always worshiped at the Congregational 
Church, where liTs family were meml)ers. and he took great 
interest in its ])rosperity. He died in the city of Washington 
on the 20th day of December. l.S'.U, having been a member of 
this bod\' contiiiuousl\- since the Itli day ot' March, 1S77. 



7t; .iiMrtss (1/ Mr. lVff<)\ of A'a/isus, on the 

Mr. Prusidfiit. tlic iii'djilc wlut look'oii while wr ((nuluct 
those miMiKiiial scivici's often wonder anil snnietimcs openly 
ask whether, after all. there is ennu^;h sin.erity and serious- 
ness in our iiroceedin};s to justify the time and treasure de- 
voted to them. Coneerniut;- the reason of this susjiieion we 
need not now in(iuire: certain il is that when death eonies to 

us i ir iiomes. within the ran.ue of our aeiinainiance. there 

is sorrow because of our tronl)le. When one of tender years 
is taken from us— our first-born it may be, the ^'em of the 
househi>ld itr the pet ami juide of our later years— when the 
wile and mother goes and tlie t'aniily is lirokeii. or the hnsliand 
and lather, ami the home is left desolate, nei<;hbors and friends 
come and wee]) with us and tender kindly otlices: they j^o with 
us to the last restinfi-place of what we call the dead, and 
there, at tlie open }n'ave. siufr with us and jnay and Join in the 
liol.\ invocation in onr l.elialf. then revi-rently depart, leaving 
blessinjis ou us. Ami this not so much because of their per- 
sonal interest in the situation as liecause a family has been 
stricken, friends are in trouble, ami they are jileased in this 
way to make known tiieir sympathy. 

These things come to us because we are brethren. The foun- 
tains of the soul are full of kindred sympathies which minf,'le 
and briufr fortii unocl, some thirty, some sixty, and some a 
humlivd luld. If a wiiole neij;-hborhood be thus sorrow lul 
over the death oldne member of a siut;ie family, and thai, too, 
it may be, (»ne too young to have been known or even seen by 
many persons outside of the little circle of home, is it strange 
that when a strong man falls, a man in possession of all his 
t'aculties, a man in action, one who ser\cd his country in war 
and in peace, whose voice has been heard ii>the nation's <-oun 
cils ami whose lbot|irints are traced in it.s statutes — when the 
carei-r of such a one is suddenly cut short by death, niay we 
not stop and devote an hour to thinking ationt it? 



Li/c- aim ClianuUr of Pratoii /!. riiiiuh. 77 

TliiTt' is sdinclliinu ;ili(iiit tlic I'lict or cdiidil ion wliicli \vt; 
tLTin de;itli tli;il i-!i;illcn.i;i's onr :it(('iitioii. Vi'I it is no! dcatli 
that halts us ami sets new liioiiniits in motion. It is lil'c \vc, 
are thin Icin.i;- about. It is life that tills us with emotion; life. 
that wrings oui- hearts and heats our brains. Life is the 
marvel of tin' a.^es, the perpetual i>roblem of men. It is the 
life of (uir friend that we remember. We I'are notliiny about 
that part of the transforniation whieli we know as death. We 
hasten to forget it and all its ineiilents; liut tlie life is with us 
forever. Its ]ilaee in the memory is kept <;'aruished and clean 
eoutinually as the years eoiue and go. We would not, if we 
could, let go the hope that some day, when the tinu^ is ripe, 
soiilvS shall meet again. How eheerless the days and montlis 
and years would be to this family were they dejirived of the 
hope to .see again and to love the man whose presence to them 
in their happy home in sunny Kansas was so dear, so helplid, 
and elieering. No, no; it is not death that interests us. but 
life; for life is real, eontinuing, eternal. 

The life of a man as he lives it in the pre.senee of his fellows 
is as properly a subject for observation and study as the water 
we drink or the air that we breathe. To understand the motives 
which impel men to action is ([uite as imjiortant as it is that 
we understand the medical ]iroperties of the food we eat. Our 
lives are affected by the lives of other men. Our thoughts are 
intiueneed by their thoughts. Our opinions are largely made 
up of what was formed in other minds befori' it h)dged in ours. 
So surely are we moved by what is moving others that we often 
find ourselves unconsciously following a leadership we did not 
choose. Our physical movements, our social deportment, (uir 
habits of thought, our manner of speech, our gestures, all that 
we are and all that we do before our feUows, all that goes to 
make up what we term our lives, is as much an assiuulation 
■of what was and is being said and done by persons around us 



78 Address of Mr. Piffcr, of Kansas, on the 

as (im- Ixxlifs are made up of vital essences that ^.^'ow in the 
grass and cm rlie trees. Those ;irand eharaeters that stand 
out aninnt,' their fellows like peaks in mountain ranges, and 
tliat we see afar off as we see elitVs and iinimontories on the 
shore line of the sea. are the men that rnoxc the worhl. Their 
thoughts take lodgment in other minds and reaiipear in the 
literature of the time : tlieir style and their manner of speech are 
copied wiierever language is written and deeds are proclaimed; 
their suggestions take form in adornment of homes. inii)rove- 
meiit of cities, in architecture and invention; their ideas live 
in machines, and their conclusions are ])reserved in laws. 

llow shall we study this man's life and how shall we measure 
him? Shall we begin by ignoring those things which made 
him what lie was and substitute another life iw his? Shall we 
construct an ideal man and then describe and praise our own 
creation? Or shall we rather do in his own case as he would 
have done in ours: take up his life Just as he lived it ami look 
at that? Beginning a poor boy, he was an editor at 10 years 
of age, a captain of militia at 2t», member of a coustitntional 
convention at 22, lawyer at 24, in the State legislature, and 
lieutenant, captain, major, and colonel of volunt<'ers at 25, 
United States Senator at 40 Surely there is a lesson in such 
a life, viewed in its own robust iiersonalty. with no embellish- 
ment beyond the simi)lc truth. 

.Moved by a boy's ambition lo ilu and dare, looking lull in 
tlie face an untried, unknown, unknowable fntiiie. his heart 
fired by theidoqnenccof (iarrison, (iiddings, Phillips, Sumner, 
and Hale, a gallant .soldier in the army of Fremont, what more 
natural than that this brave, brainy, liberty-loving boy should 
turn toward tlie battle -round in Kansas? With thi' tnmliles 
there began the gicatesl war in history, a war in wiiicli a 
nation of tlie liest and bravest ]ieoi)le on earth undertook to 
settle among theni.selves and for them.selves a matter which it 



Life and Chaiuxctcr of Pra^loii /'. Piiiii/h. 7!) 

liad licroiiic (■\iilciit to all (-(Piild not he (lis|)os('(l oC in any other 
way. Ill that urea) war Mr. I'limu iicrt'ormcd a Union 
soldier's part. r])on its conclusion lie, with otlicrs, bcf;an tlie 
building of a State, and the uiarvchiiis growth of Kansas 
testifies tluit their work was well doTie. It has no ](aralli'l in 
the history of settlement. 

It is liut thirty years since the State l)e.canie a member of the 
American Union, and in those thirty years her popnlation in- 
ei'eased more than a million and a (piartcr. She has builded 
S,0(l() sciioolhonses; her railways measure nearly !),00(» miles of 
main track; her farmers raised i;."')0,0(K),()(»0 bnshels of corn in 
l.S8'.t and more than 5(),000,()0() bushels of wheat in 1891; .she 
has a post-offlee within easy reach of every home and churches 
enough to .seat onefonrth other people. Mr. Plumb was one 
of the biLsy, restless, devoted band that aecoraplished this 
wonderful work. They concpiered the wildeiness and ex- 
punged the frontier line. Among all those tireless workers 
none did more, none was more active and persistent, none 
more respected, none more loyal than he in whose memory 
these words are spoken. He jjossessed intuitive knowledge of 
practical methods. He was not an inventor; not a])hilosopher; 
not a dreamer nor a doctrinaire; not an enthusiast; but he 
was a worker, a workman who uses to the best advantage the 
tools he has to work with. He wasted nothing in exi)erimeuts; 
he preferred to work along lines that had led to success. 

He thought the farmer's smokehouse ought to be ou the 
farm, and not in the packing houses at Kansas City or Chicago. 
He thought the wool and cotton grown on Kansas soil ought 
to be manufactured in Kansas towns. He was resourceful 
rather than (uiginal. An economist, husbanding his means, 
he was in all things practical, doing that which he knew could 
be done rather than wasting eflbrt on doubtful ventures. He 
believed the workman is worthy of his hire, and he had no use 



80 Address of Mr. Peffcr, of Kansas, on the 

for a laz\ man. Ilr<li(l imt iinfiil scliciiies iiin- lU'visi' jjlaiis 
tn set grreat eiiti'iprisi-s in uiotioii, but bi- iisi-d tlie means at 
liand to (li'vclop what was in si<;tht. He caretl not to I'xiilori" 
unknown rcji'ions. but hi- jrot out of the present all tliat was in 
it. His ambition was to do. lallicr tliaii In lif. it was ;is 
natiiial for liini to w(uk as it is for rivers to tiow. ("leaiin 
view, tirni in ojiinion. direct in tlionsht, voluble in si)eeeh, and 
eouraReous in expression, such a man could neither be muz 
zled nordwarfeil. In the Iaii^uaj;e of a friend. '• lands, money, 
cattle, mines, railroads, banks, all the great agencies of Imsi- 
ness and politics, siive him the delifiht that a child feels in its 
toys. He derived from the contemplation of these subjects 
the pleasure that men, diliercntly organized, feel in society, 
the table, books, art, and travel.'' 

Hutering the Senate from an agricultural State, in a period 
of commercial dei)ression, when the country was going down 
to the low level of a gold-money basis, his views logically re- 
tlected tliose of his peoide. He believed in enlarging the 
volume of the circulating medium and he believed tiie Govern 
ment alone should provide the money, lie was opposed to 
intrusting this high function of sovereignty to corporations. 
He advocated the substitution of (iovernment paper fur l)ank 
notes; he favored free coinage of silver; he urged the revision 
of taritV duties in the interest of labor; he opposed increasing 
the Army, and insisted upon simplifying the costly and, as he 
believed, unnecessarily cumbrous (lijilomalic system. His 
ready grasp of situations, his (juick jjcrception of what needs 
to be first done, his clear comjirehension of public needs, his 
never-failing fuiiil of resources, and his ceaseless energy served 
him in tliis liri)adei- lield iil'i-tfoi-t as they hail diini' in his local 
work at home. As he had done there, .so he did here. He 
ke|)t close to the people: he stu<lied their wants and he kept 
his home among them. He maintained no costly establishment 



Lijf and Cliaracter of Pnsloii B. J'/inn/i. Si 

!it tlic niitioii's ciipilal. lie liad no liveried seivaiits to wait 
ii|M)ii him lieie. Wlicii a Kansas man eanu- to Wasbiiifjtoii, 
I'LiT.AiB's hand, liis head, his heart, and hi.s pocket were ready 
to serve him. lie always responded when the peojile called, 
and lie did it willini;ly. 

With tlie jiil'ted Inyalls at iiis side — I nivalis, pidmpt and 
tearless ou the tloor, ready and impartial in the chair, l)rij;lit 
and interesting- everywhere — Kansas had able champions in 
debate and sagacions friends in connsel. 

The worst that Senator Puniu's ])olitical enemies ever said 
of him was that he exeused his party and defended it even 
when he believed it to be wroni;. One who knew him well 
says of him: 

" lie voted against the McKinley bill, favored free silver, de- 
nounced national banks and the tinaucial policy of his asso- 
ciates, bnt he never parted comjiany with them in the end." 

His loyalty to his party, strong as it was, was not stronger 
than his own conviction.S npon nieasnres of jmblic ]iolicy: yet, 
harshly as he often criticised his party in tiiis Chamber when 
his political friends were in the iiuijoiity, he was never known 
to oppose his party in the fornm of the peoi)le. If that was a 
weakness in him, how shall we excnse onrselves, those of ns 
who are no stronger than he? "Let him that is withont sin 
cast the first stone." Although a blind devotion to party 
warps the judgment of men, impairs our usefulness, and to 
some extent necessarily blmits our moral sense, how many of 
us are guiltless? 

lint there is another anil still lietter phase of this man's life; 
and that, after all, when it is what it ought to be, is tiie best 
part of the best meiTs lives, that Mhieh is lived at home, where 
sacred relations exist, where the tenderest ties are formed; 
there where our children are born, wheie new lives come to 
lis, and where we start men and women on thi- way to citizen 

ship, thus doing our part in developing and perpetuating what 

S. Mis. 2l.*S (I 



82 Address of Mr. Pcffer^ of Kansas, on the 

is ;iiio(l ill society :iml {jovermiieiit. A well-ordered Iidum' is a 
prosperous uiitiou in iiiiuiatme. In its arriingemeut ami maii- 
afioiiieut are involved all tlie (Ihristiau jrraces and the highest 
forms of imlilic control. 

As to liis personal leli^'ious views, lie was a tirni believer iu 
the Christian liiilh and all iliai it imiilic-. lie always spoke 
of religions thinjis with the ntnio.st respect and reverence, tie 
was never beard to sjieak lightly of sacred things under any 
circumstances or iu any company, lie believed in churches 
and rejoiced in their prosperity and growth. His name was 
not enrolled in the membership of any denoniinalion. yet he 
was a Cluistian. He was devoted to those of liis own house- 
hold, he was kind to the needy around him. charitable alway.s, 
generous to his neighbors, temperate and decorous himself, 
and respectful to all. That is a Christian life. Nothing bet- 
ter shows the virtue of the all-pervading intiiu'ncc of truths 
which have come down to us through the centuries from Him 
who sjiake as never nuui si)ake than the moral and intellectual 
upbuilding of families like this. 

Though the march of civilization has been over bloody 
ground, the leaven of truth lias .spread until the nations believe 
in (lod. And though men may be careless of in(U-al restraint, 
though some of us may sit in costly temples and hire our 
wor.shiping d(me, though the; poor may have not even a closet 
to pray in, though many and tlagrant wrongs exist and many 
of us are desix'iately wicked, .still the spirit that angels sang 

when llie •• Kalie of liellileliem" was born— jieace and g 1 

will— the doctrine taught by the "Carpenter's Son," and the 
life lived by the •• lowly Nazarene" are more deeply embedded 
in till' conscieiu'c of the masses today t lian e\ n hefure. flic 
revolution now in progress will .set us one step nearer the time- 
when men shall deal Justly, love mercy, and walk liumbly, 

the choi<-est fruit of (Christian doctrine, tl full giown corn 

in the ear." 



Life and Character of Preston B. riitinb. 83 



Address of Mr. Cockrell, of Missouri. 

Mr. CocKRKLL. Mr. President, aiiiiil tlie many i)re.ssinj;- and 
onerous labors and dufies devolvini^' upon the .Senate of tlie 
United States, it is eniinently rii^lit that we should pause for 
one day to pay the last sad rites to the name and memory of 
our deceased eolaborer. Pre.'^ton B. I'lumb, the honored and 
illustri(tu.s Senator from the great State of Kansas. 

He entered this Chamber on Mareh 4, 1S77, as a Seuatoi' 
from the State of Kansas, and for over fourteen years and inne 
montlis was an active, dilioent, laborious, useful, influential, 
and honored member of this body. 

How <imckly, how unexpectedly, the light of his earthly life 
was bedarkened by the glotun of his death ! 

Apparently in robust health, with clear, intellectnal vigor 
and unceasing activity, the fell disease quickly overpowered 
the vital forces of life and his immortal spirit passed from the 
scenes of time to the realities of the eternal life, impressively 
verifying the fact tliat in life we are in the niidsf of death. 

It was my pleasure to form his ])ersonal ac([uaintance when 
he entered npon his duties in this Chamber, in Jfarch, 1S77, 
and our acquaintance ripened into a warm personal friendship, 
which continued uninterruptedly to his death. 

We served upon the same committees — on Military Affairs, 
Public Lands, and Appropriations. The.se services greatly 
strengthened (mr ft-iendship and intimate relations. 

I can truthfully say — without any invidious reflections upon 
others — that he was one of the most untiring, painstaking, 
constantly laborious, useful, and intelligent members of this 
great legislative body. 

His whole life from boyhood to death, when faithfully por- 
trayed in all its stages, reads like a romance, and is peculiarly 



8 t Address of Mr. Cocknil, of Missouri, on the 

ililt'icsliiij; ;iiiil instructive. ;illil should he :i sunii-c of Just 
luiilc !.• Iiis licrcl't iM>iu|i:iiiiiPU ;iimI i liildriii. ami of ciicouratre- 
iiifiit and c-umliitioii lo tlic lliousaiids of striij;j,'lin^' and laiid- 
ai.lv aiiihitioiis youths of our jiicat country. It portrays in 
rt-alistic and inspirin;,' fi'lois the jiossildt- achieveinents of lift' 
in iiur coiintr.N- under (Uir iineiiualed system of .uovernnuMit. 

1 have neither the ihita nor tin' time to -o into the details of 
bis life. Others more eompetent have iloue and will do .so. 

Urielly stated, I'uicston 15. Pltmb was born in Delaware 
County, Ohio, on October 12, l.S.'JT; received a common selu.ol 
education: learned the art of printing, and aided in establish- 
ing the Xenia New.s, removed to the then Territory of Kansas 
in 1S5(;, then l)eing about 20 years of age; was a ])rinter in the 
office of the Herald of Freedom, aud became foreman. 1 n 1 S.")7 
he e.stablisbed the Emporia News, at Emporia, Ivans., and 
thereafter nuule that place his home; was a member of the 
Leavenworth constitutional convention of lS5it. having em 
ployed his few leisure moments in studying law ; was admitted 
to the bar in ISOl : was elected a member of the lower house 
of the Legislature in 1862; was chairman of the Judiciary com- 
mittee, and afterwards reporter of the suineme court. 

In August, 1^<<>2. he entered the volunteer service of his 
country as a second lieutenant in the l'.h'\entli Kansas b'egi 
meiit. and became successively captain, major, and lieutenant 
colonel, and was commissioned colonel of that legiment. In 
1S(JC. he was a mendjcr and was elected s]>eakcr of the Kansas 
house of rei)resentatives, and was also a meml)ei in I lie lollow 
ing year. Itelimpiishing the practice of law, he was made 
president of the Emporia Natioind Hank in IS".!, lie was 
elected to the United States Senate for the term beginning on 
the 4th of March, 1H77, and was successively elected his own 
succes.sor ill 1883 and l.SS'.J, his third term expiring on March 
3, 18!).-.. 



Li/i and i'liaraclcr of ricston /!. I'luinh. 85 

It is iclal('(l iifliiiii t lial w lien aboiil I wclvc years oC a.uc lif Icit 
liis lioiiic witli a liltlr liuiiillc (if |M>is(iiial cH'ccIs anil w alkcd 10 
miles to the printing; ot'lice in wiiicli \\v was lo Icai ii iiis tiailc, 
and that only a tew months bet'oie his death lie lel'ened to that 
event and said, "That was the 1)ef>'innin.i;(ir the journey of my 
life."' A wondeil'nl joniiiey it was, trodden withont pause or 
rest, with constant and laborious api)lieation and unceasinj;' 
toil to qualify and fit him to hold fast every sueeessi\e step 
taken and to ris(> hi,i;her and higher in the esteem, eontidence, 

ami love of tin' | pie of his State ami of the whole country. 

Most truly can it be said, "he was the architect of his own 
fortuiu'." 

Selfedueatt'd, witiuiut the advanta.ues ot' a classical or uni 
versify edncation, without fortune, ami without inrtuential ;'.nd 
heljiful friemls. he liecame a jirintcr, an editor, a lawyer, a 
colonel in our volunteer army, a State legislator, a bank j)resi- 
dent, and a Tnited States Senator, electecl successively for 
three terms, excr retaining a ciniscions memory of the sue 
cessive steps he had taken ami never .urowini; iiaui;hty or 
self-conceited, and faithfully and efliciently discharyini; the 
duties of every ])osition to the satisfaction of the ])ersons inter- 
ested and with credit ami honor to himself. 

He possessed a broad, strong, active mind, and with juilicial 
clearness comprehended the soluticni of questions jiresented, 
and with clear, rapid Judgment executed his plans. 

He was a true r<>presentative of the great masses of tiie 
lieojile. fanuliar ami in warm symjiathy with their wants and 
best interests as seen by him. 

In every positi()n in his eventful career he achieved success 
by his indomitable energy, perseverance, close, studious appli 
cation, an<l determineil \\ ill power. As a friend, he was tine 
and faithful; as a husband he was tender, loving, and devoti d 
to his invalid companion; and as a father, kind and affec- 
tionate. 



8(> .l(/t/riss of Mr. Morrill^ of Wrntont, on the 

lli> was a tiriii believer in the Clnistiaii faitli ami all It iiii 
plies. 

Ill tills last sail inciiiDrial service in this Chainlier I tender 
to his bereft wife and children heartfelt condolence and syni 
jiatliy, and coiiimeiid tlieiii to our only jrreat Comforter in such 
alliii-lloiis. 

In bestowint; ii|miii Preston B. Phimd the lil>,'h and re- 
sponsible position he so ably and conspicuously tilled for so 
many years the irood people of Kansas honored themselves and 
gave to the wliole country a faithful and useful Senator, who 
discharged his laborious duties with credit and honor to them 
and to himself. 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Morrill, of Vermont. 

Mr. MoKKTi.L. Air. President, the early inciilents in the life 
of our deceased associate have been already faithfully por 
trayed, but they are so remarkable that they will bear repeti- 
tion. The late Senator I'l.rMiiwasa man nf in)sitive forces of 
character, and forces which swiftly advanced his i)ro>;ress, 
stej) after stej). in various spheres of life, no matter by what 
conditions confronted or suriounded. He seeiued to know 
how to make himself useful ami had tlu' couraj;e to jio straight 
about it. With only a common .sclnxd education and .some 
knowledfic iu the art of printinfi', he went from Ohio to Kan 
Has in l.S5(!. at the age of lit, and of course became familiar 
with the heroic history ol' that liliertyloving State. It was 
not long Ijefore he Itecame an editor and proprietor of a news- 
paper, and was admitt<'d to the bar in ISdl ; elected to the 
Kansas Legislature in 1S02, where he was promptly made 
chairman ol' t lie jiKliriary eoiiiiniltee. and was soon after maile 
the recorder of the supreme court of Kausas. The sanu' year 



Life and Cliaracter of Predion /-'. Pliimh. 87 

lie entered tli<' volunteer .seiviee iis seccinil lientenanl ot the 
Eleventh Kansas Infantry, and was suecessively made (-aptain, 
major, lieutenant colonel, and eolonel. Again he was eleett^d 
to ihe Kansas house of re{)rt'sentMti\'es in ISdCt and chosen a.-, 
speaker, and was also a Tueniher of tlie house the t'ollowiniLC 
year. In 1877, before he was 40 years of age, lie w as ehn'ted 
to the Senate of the United States, of which he remained a 
prominent member until his decease. 

It will be noticed that the deceased, while yet young, was 
no idler, and so acquitted himself in all the civil and military 
duties with which from time to time he was charged that liis 
advance came rapidly and surely, lie had not been long in 
the Senate when he informed me, at a time when I ha])|)ened 
to be a memlier of the committee to arrange the membership 
of the committees of the Senate, that he was extremely desir- 
ous to be placed where he could do more work, and therefore 
wanted some jilace on the Committee on Ap[)ropriations. This 
he obtained without objections, and it is needless to mention 
that he handled with fidelity and vigor such bills as were 
alloted to his charge. As chairman of the Committee on Public 
Lands his services were laborious and important, especially 
in I'escuing unearned railroad land grants. 

Upon his ajipearanee in the Stmate at the opening of the 
present session, his rol)ust form and confident bearing gave no 
visible indication of any infirmity or of any early termination 
of his earthly career. Few of his Senatorial associates here 
apparently had a fairer outlook ainl promise of health and life. 
His sudden demise found us all unprepared and enforces the 
oft repeated truth that the grim messenger, waiting to intro- 
duce us all to the mysteries of another world, is no respecter 
of persons, but comes in "siu/h an hour as ye think not." 

Since my service begau in the Senate the death roll is long, 
including live Presidents and also an ecjual number of Vice- 
Presidents. 



88 Address of Mr. Morrill, of I'ermont, on the 

Tilt' Senate itself is (•(niiiiuMily reckoned as a conservative 
and preservative body, where '• few die and none resign," hut 
that is ((infnted by the i)ast occurrence of rigorous facts. I 
tind today but two lionored Senators here who were uiend)ers 
of the Senate at the time of my entrance; and within twenty- 
live years the number of fhose who liavc died while in ottice 
or after the expiration of their terms of service is over ninety. 

Some of these ninety Senators were counted in their day as 
among the foremost public men of the Hepublic, and all of 
them had some real exccllfiice or ability, some well-marked 
personality, that peculiarly c<iminen(led them to the favor of 
their respective States. There were a few silent members 
whose judgment in committee work was reverenced as almost 
infallible. Some had that -'resistless eloquence" which 
wielded at will their hearers. Others were ready, brilliant, 
and cogent on the spur of the moment in parliamentary debate. 
Those who witnessed the intellectual resources, the wisdom 
and wit oltcii iiere exhibited, felt sure the speakers would 
''leave something to after time" which the world ■■would not 
willingly let die."' 

It will still be remembered, 1 liojie, that the Senate has been 
decorated, witliin the ]icriod mentioned, by the services of 
siK-h distinguished mend)ers as Sumner and Wilson, Morton 
and Hendricks. Fessenden and Hamlin. Ben Wade, Pendleton 
and Matthews, Garrett Davis and lieck. Anthony, Foster, 
Van Winkle, Ben. II. Hill. Kcverdy Johnson. Pomeroy. /ach. 
Chandler, Windom, Conkling, Howe and .^latt Carpenter, Nye, 
Casserly, Dixon, Grimes. Frelinghnysen. David Davis, and 
Logan, as well as by others yet living, though no longer mem- 
bers of the Senate; but brevity of Senatorial service hcnand 
brevity of life after such service, with few exceptions, would 
seem to have been the fate of a majority of our jiredecessors. 

Senator Plumh delivered his .speeches without notes, in a 



/.//(■ and Clhiraitcr of /'rcs/,)ii /!. Plumb. 8!» 

* 
loud, clear voice, wit.li al)ouii(liii,t;- j^cstii'iihitioii, and with a 

steam tiiiiliaimnci rapidity of iitlcraiicc. < )li\ iousl y, lie was 
always luucli in earnest, ha\ini; no t liou.uht oT delcal or re- 
treat and (Ireailini;- no assailant. His uiHiuestional)le aliilily, 
his occasional aji.u-rossiveness in debate, his varied int'ornintion, 
gathered tioni diligent oliservation, and his considerable i'und 
ot inirtli-iirovokini; anec(h)tes when aiuonj; his t'ann'liar friends 
will serve to perpetuate his name, his individuality, and Kibust 
traits of character. 

The deceased Senator was a hard and pnshin.u worker, largely 
interested iu many tinaneial enterprises, such as bankin;.;, 
miuiiig, and railroads, and for the latter years of his life it is 
now evident that the multiiilied and onerous demands ma<le 
upon his time anil constitution by his business affairs, oi)ening 
wider aud wider by their general success, togethei' with otticial 
duties here, and the annual strain of a political State cam- 
paign, had overtasked and undermined his nervous system 
and great natural strength. He had not recognizeil that there 
everconld be any abatement <>f his normal \igor, nor contem- 
])lated rest until it was too late. 

Some year.s ago 1 -was happy iu having made not only the 
acquaintance of Senator l'Lr:\U!, but also that of his beloxed 
wife and family, some of whom were long-time invalids; and 
no husband or father could exhibit greater care w tenderer 
devotion to whatever tended to promote their health or hap- 
piness. However great the loss nniy be conqinted here, it will 
be far greater at the home in Kansas, where the sad aftiietion 
fixes an incurable grief. We can here only offer our brief 
tril>ute to the deceased Senator and our deep sympathy with 
his bereaved family. , 



90 



Address of Mr. Daniel, of I 'irginia, on the 



ADDRESS OF MR. DANIEL, OF VlRGINMA. 

Mr. Daniel. Mr. Presidi'iit. life — it.s coiulitioii.s. lU'veloj) 
nu'uts. ami iiiii)n)vciiu'nts — i.s the constant subject of progrcss- 
ivf thouylit. W'l- h'arii iniicli of its laws. We succof its weak- 
ness. We .sharpen its faculties. Wc diversify its usefulness. 
We onricli it witli learning;-. We adorn it with trophies. We 
regale it with sculpture and jiicture and song. .Science repairs 
its intirmities and may e\cn prolong its days. I!ul what know 
we of death.' No imiic I lian lie wlio first stood awe-struck and 
niystilied and dnnd) before one dead. IMiilosophy tenders its 
consolations. The uni\ersal instinct ot' man reaches tlirough 
the darkness with yearning to livi- Ibrever. The dream of 
imiiiortality floats througli ••life's litful fever" and < liristiauity 
cheers the hope of a life beyond tiie grave. Our didl senses 
fail us under the burden of tlimights too vast for coniprehen 
sion or tr)0 .subtle to be put in words. The infinite toiu'hes us, 
the Unite, with a jjoint of hope, and tlien time and space en- 
velope us with mysteries inipenetrai)le. Vet whatever we 
believe or fancy, one thing we know: We know we are in our 
Maker's hands. We know that God is oi] the otlierside of the 
river of life to wliicli we go, even as lie was on the side from 
which we came. Where lie is it nuist be well. Let ns be 
ciindbrted; we are in our .Maker's keeping. 

!Such hours as these, spent in connnemoraiion of those who 
have lived and laiiored with u.s, are not to i>e begrudged. Ithas 
been remarked that over twenty days of the Fifty-lirst <'on- 
gress were consumed in rites for the dead, and some have sug- 
gested that we shoidd devote the Saiiliatli to them, that legis 
lation max nidnlerruptedl\ proceed. 1 am suretliat this view 
cannot spiing from indilference to the nnrnorics of ihi'de- 



Life a)td Clnxractrr of Preston IS. I'liDnh. !•! 

|):irt('(l: it si)riiii;'s ratlicr IVoiii the strain ol |)iililic duty and 
the l)ui(U'ii of public cMit'. Tliosc wiio liavc not cxpciicnci'd 
what those duties and liiirdcus :nc have hut litlh' couccption 
of tlieir iiuiltitudc or their Miajj,uitude. Tlie lej^ishiti ve attairs 
of over sixty millions of people concentrate here in tlu^ hands 
of little more than four hundred men: tlieii- labors be.yin with 
the earliest movenmnts of business in the mornius'; they close 
only iu the deep middle of the uight, when sleep is upon man. 
For the legislative |)ublie servant there is no eight-hour law, 
noi- twelve-hour law. 

The correspondence of a Senator or Representative, liis com- 
nuttee work, and his business with the Departments would 
each consume the full time of a hard-working man. Yet when 
these tasks are done there remains yet undone the main woik 
of his mission here, the enactmeut of laws for a great nation, 
compreluMidiug the complex concerns of forty-four Oommou- 
wealths, unitied as a Ifepublic, iu whose immensity is ])retig- 
ured the universal nation. The maiiydeaths amongst members 
of Congress is probably due more to the strain upon their 
mental and jdiysical faculties than to any other cause, and iu 
the death of the distinguished Senator whom we mourn to-day 
there is but little <loubt that this cause found its natural efl'ect 
and gathered to the dust its latest victim. 

Senator Tlumb was all aglow with his tasks. He loved his 
work and liis work grew upon him. His restless, active, ear- 
nest, aggressive nature kiu'w no sto|)or sta.v. He seized ui)on 
his tasks with avidity, lie grappled with them as he would 
assail a fortress; he clung to them with relentless diligence 
and dispatcluMl them with fervid zeal. But as he curtailed iu 
one direction they grew iu another. The water ran into the 
ship faster than the sailor could liail it out. His work con- 
sumed him even as he consumed it: he was rolling the stone 
of Sisy|)hus, and as he i-olled it up tlie hill it rolled back and 
over liim — and he is dcadl 



'.rj, .ItMress of Mr. Dauicl, of I 'i/oi/iia, on Ihe 

Kiiiii ill Oliiii ill t^.17. Ill' (litil siuliiinly in Ilic lity of \V;ish- 
iiijftoii on the -Otli day of Dt'cember last, in the very fullness 
of his leiiiaikable career. A ••oimiioiischool (Mlucatioii and a 
l)riiiter's appreutieeship eoiistituted his eciuipmeiit for tlie bat- 
tles of life. Ere he was liO years of at,'e he mipated to Kan- 
sas and there settled. In tlial fresh yoniig State, with its 
teeming opportunities, he found a fitting theater for his indns 
trioiis. aspn-iug- nature, ami his career was upward and onward 
until he tillcil a great space and became an important factor 
in the affairs of his State and country. 

Coming to the bar in lS(il, his diligence ere long won for him 
the position of reporter of tlic sni)reme court. Entering the 
army as a second lieutenant, lie passed the successive grades 
of caiJtain. niajm'. and lieutenant (•dlnnel. and at tin- close of 
hostilities was the commander of his regiment. Entering 
legislative service as a member of the constitutional convention 
of IS.j'.t, he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature 
ill 1S()2 and became cliairmaii of its judiciary comiiiittee. 
A"ain a legislator in 1S(>7, he was chosen speaker. Ten years 
later he was elected United States Seimtor and twice he was 
reelected to .succeed him.self. He was the natural offs|)ring of 
the boundless opportunities nf a free laiiil and a I rue type of 
the progressive Western man (if this rushing age. Wjtii a 
constitution of iron, he iilungcd into tlie seething currents of 
political and business life. Vigor marked all his efforts, suc- 
cess cn)wned his undertakings, and, as lawyer, .statesman, .sol- 
dier, and Imsiness man, he reaped rewards and lionors. The 
continued sui>port ami cmifidence bestowed upon him by his 
people better besi)oke his caiiacities and the esteem in which 
he was lu-ld than any eulogy of words. 

His training as a pariiaiMciiIarian and lawyer anil legislator 
lucpared him well for his duties here, and for many years he 
toiik a I'onsjiicuous part in framing and discussing measures 



Life aud Character of Prrstou li. Plumb. !)3 

before this Itody. A.s;i deliatn- he laiikeil hi-h. (^)iiickiii per- 
eeptioii, ready and eai;cr lor acriun, ])o.sitive, direct, and aj,' 
.Uressivc in liis nietlidds, he lost no time in sliikiim al (lie 
main point and a,i;ainst it lie Imrlcd liis stores of taets and 
ti;;iiics with decisive aim. Tiie li<;iit('r adjnncts of debate, tiie 
play of humor and tlic tii-ht of fancy, he sehlom called into 
iei|iiisition. Plain in manner, uuart'ected in style, strong in 
imrpose, carin.i^ little for ornament and all for matter, ever 
earnest and forcible and olteii imiiassioiied, he iliscussed no 
subject that he did not illmniiie with contriimtioiis of thiui.uht 
aud knowledge. 

Seuator I'lumb was a man of affairs. The chaiacter of his 
iniml was eminently ]uactical. His executive capacities were 
great. At the head of any great enterprise ho would have 
made his mark. From the beginning he looked toward the 
end, subordinating theory to aeeomplishnieut, and result was 
the goal on which his eyes were fastened and to which his steps 
ever hastened. Well informed on ]>ul>Iic matters and keeping 
pace with advanced thought on leading (pu-stions, he moved 
with the pioneers of his \YA\Xy to their solution. As a rule he 
never separated from his [Hilitical party liy going too far 
ahead or lagging behind, and he was an intense, eariu'st 
Eepublican. But he was independent aiul' self-reliant. He 
kept in touch with his constituents. His symi)athies were 
with jtopular interests, and time and again he voted his con- 
victiousfor lighter taxation and for liberal tinam-ial legislation 
regardless of the majority of his jiolitical associates against 
him. 

The eagerness of his disposition made Senator Ph'Mb a par- 
tisan, aiul the struggles in his State, where ei>ntending ideas 
came in tierce collision, doubtless tired his enthusiasm ami in 
teusiticd his convictions. But as the years of peace rolled by 
their ameliorating influences were exemplified in his conduct. 



ft4 Address of Mr. Daniel, of J 'iro-/j;ta, on the 

1 recall this clay willi iileasure that in all the discussions here I 
never once heard liini iitttT \viir<ls nf bitterness towards my 
section or its i)eoi)le. In the restoration ol' the Soutli lie took 
deep interest. He was loath to interfere with the <,'ood indu- 
ences which were at work to liarnionize its elements and to re- 
store its i)rosi)erity, and the partisan felt the impulses of the 
jiatriot in dealing with questions that touched the structure of 
society and the welfare of the jjcople. 

When I came ttt tlie Senate in 1887 Senator I'l.iMH liad long 
been one of its leading menihers. .My aciinaintance with liim 
thenliegan. In his marked courtesy and kindness tome, which 
\\v went out of his way to manifest, he impressed me with a 
sense of his amiable and sociabU' disposition and excited grate- 
ful regards, which I shall long cherish. Two instances, small 
in themselves, gave me an iiisiglit into his character. Once in 
debate he used words which grated very harshly ui)on me and 
I thought them unprovoked. Stilling the impulse to respond 
resent lulh. I went, as soon as he took his seat, to his side and 
called his attention to them. With a beaming snule on his 
face hestretched outhis liaiul to me,andwhat he said instantly 
removed all unpleasantne.ss, and his act and words were so 
frank and gracions that 1 felt strongly drawn to him. 

Again, I went one day to sjieak to him at his desk: papers 
and books were piled up before him and he seemed absorbed 
in the maze of statistical facts ami ligures, but the book before 
liini was not of tlie kind 1 expected to si'c. •• If you wish to 
read sonu-thiug h)vely," he said, " read this," and he handed 
me ArnoUVs Light of Asia, with a marked pa.ssage of ex- 
quisite beauty; and he added, as I expressed surju-ise at .see- 
ing him with such a 1 k at sncli a time, such wor<ls as these, 

" Oh I am reading this to rest myself from tiiese weary tasks." 

I know full well, from sotirces that I need not name, of acts 

ot kindness done by Senator Plumh which could only come 



Fj/c and Cliaraclcr of Preston />'. PIniiih, 95 

from ;i heart touclicd witli tlu- .i,'eiitl(' t'Larities ol' liuinaiiity. 
Underiioatli his strong aiitl somctiiin's rough cxltirior there 
were recesses of teii(h'r thought and feeling whicii sought ex- 
pression in good (h'eds. 

(lone from us to return no more; filleu in lu's ])rime; taken 
iu tlie twinkling of an eye to his long iKUue, may liis good deeds 
embalm liis memory and bear solace to those to whom he was 
nearest and dearest; and may we not hope that he rests well 
now from his weary tasks and that it is tiue, as the Asian 
propliet says ? 

Witli tlriith till' siinrist' ooiiies: 

Till' ilcwdrop sli]is into the sliiniug sea. 



Address of Mr. Dolph, of Oregon. 

Mr. Dolph. Mr. Tresideut, we have laid aside for an hour 
the business of the Senate, matters of state which demand at- 
tention, questions of politics which array us against one another 
and lead to acrimonious discussion and nuitual denunciation, 
to unite, with saddened hearts and snl)dued utterances, in 
paying our last tribute of respect to the memory of our de- 
parted brother. 

r should feel condemned if 1 failed to add my humble tribute 
to the eulogies already pronounced and to be ])ronounced to 
the memory of our colleague. He was one of the tirst of the 
members of this body when 1 entered the Senate to welcome 
me; and with his aid I was placed upon the Committee on 
Public Lands, of Avhich he was chairman, and our intercourse 
was thenceforth most pleasant and friendly. I was greatly 
shocked by his death and felt that I had lost a personal friend. 

We are again reminded of our mortality and that great use- 
fulness, imblic honors, and exalted position furnish no exemp- 
tion from the shafts of the insatiate archer. ■> Death meets 



9(i AiidiTSS of Mr. Dolpli, of Oregon, on the 

us e\ery where and is jiniiinfil by cmtv iiistriiiiicnt."" It is 
the law ..four beiiiy, tlu> uiialtt'iabk- dccTwof Heaven. In an 
unexpected liour lie couu-s, and the laurel is eiianj;ed into 
(•\ press, the e(pii]>aj;e of earthly power into the pall and the 
iieaise. ^lau j;aliiers riclics. lie spends liis days lor tlie 
thinjrs which ]ierish with their usinj;. He secures wealth and 
])ower and position and is snatched away and others enter into 
his labors and enJo\' the tliiiii;s which cost him his lite. In the 
pride of the streiii;tli of manliooil. in the lull possession ol'liis 
natural jxiwers, in the zenitii of his usefulness, in the coiili- 
dence and esteem of his colleaj;ues in this ("hamber and of his 
countrymen, with and)itions for greater influence and bright 
hopes for the future, unexpectedly and almost without luitice 
the messenger came to liim we mourn. In tin- moriiiiig the 
summons came, and betbre the morning's sun iiad reached its 
meridian his s]»irit had left its earthly tenement and winged 
its liight to give an account to the .Vuthor of its existence. 

W'lieii we last saw him and iieard him upon tliis lioor lie was 
the apparent embodiment of health and strength and seemed 
to have the promise of many years of usefulness ami activity 
before him. None would liavc^ iiuide the proiihecy that the 
lirst seat to be \a<'ati'i| in the Senate wniilcj be that of 1 he 
seidor Senator from Kausas. 

I shall not attemjit to recount the incidents of the life aiul 
the pui)lic .services of Senator I'n MH. Tiiat duty has already 
been well ])erformed by those better i|naiilied for the tasl^. 
During my service upon tin' < 'ommiiiee mi I'libjic Lands many 
iini)ortant matters were brought betbre the committee for 
consideration, and 1 had ami)le oi)i)ortiiiiity to Judge of the 
cajiacity of our deceased brother. He >vas always (piick to 
perceive a iioiiit and lia<l an aiua'/.ing abi it>- to iiroenl his 
views forcibly and tersely, lie was a growing man. 11 is 
mental powers were kept in constant tension. His wonderlid 



Life and Character of Preston /?. Plumb. 97 

ability to ijrasi) :i ([lu'stion, to giitlier and retain iiifoi'iuatioii 
concerning- it, and present liis views upon it, increased with 
every year. The clearness and vigor of iiis intellect have been 
too often shown in this Chamber to be ([uestioned. We were 
all often surprised at the masterly manner with which he 
absorbed information and presented measures i>cnding in the 
Senate. 

I think I do no man an injustice when I say that, for untir- 
ing indu.stry, exhaustless energy, for ability to comprehend 
a subject and present a proposition, and power to produce 
results in legishition, no man in the Senate or who has been 
a member since I entered it surpassed Senator Plumb. He 
possessed in an unusual degree the rude elements so well suited 
to successful contiicts in pioneer life. It is true that he lacked 
the polish which is given by a college education, that he did 
not possess the graces of oratory ; but he had been schooled in 
the experiences of frontier life, in the great struggle between 
freedom and slavery in Kansas, in the camp, on the march, 
and in the shock of battle in defense of the Union, upon the 
stumii in the great ])olitical contests since the war, by partici- 
pation in tlie promotion and prosecution of great business 
enterprises for the development of his State and the country at 
large, in the sharp encounters of the debates of this Chamber, 
and in the multifarious j)ublic duties of his long and successful 
career. 

What he lacked in polish and discipline imparted by schools 
he more than made np by his native ability, his knowledge of 
men and of practical affairs, his directness and mental force, 
the abundance, simplicity, and clearness of his style. If the 
masterly use of plain, terse, vigorous, and logical English, 
which carries conviction and secures the sympathies of one's 
auditors, is eloquence, he was eloquent. 

lie detested shams, hj-jiocrisy, and display, and affected to 
despise titles and distinctions of worldly honor. lie was too 
S. .Mis. 22S 7 



98 Address of Mr. Do/p/t, of Oregon, on the 

busy for the ilutics of social lil'c ami aiiparciitly iiidilfcrciit to 
tlic laws of so-called society. Uc ueitlicr fcarcil (laiiger nor 
sliiaiik from responsibility. He tliun^lit forhim.self ami formed 
his own eouelusions. and by his utterances and his votes in 
this body sometimes autajronized his party; but in an emer- 
•jeucy, when his vote was needed to carry a jiarty measure, 
uever failed it. 

I lis conception of the mission of man upon this eartli ap- 
peared to be similar to that of Cliajiin when he wrote, ■■ .Man 
was sent into the world to be a growing and exhau.stless force. 
The world was spread out arouuil him to be seized and con- 
quered. Realmsof infinite truth burst ojjcn above him, inviting 
him to tread those shining courts along which Newton di(tpped 
his pluiuiiiet and llcrschel sailed, a Coluiidius uK the skies,'' 

The history of the State he served .so faithfully cau not bo 
fairly Avritten but his name will be found inscribed on almost 
every page, and his labors will be chronicled in the account of 
the years of her early struggles and of iicr later piiis]i(rity, 
and in the history of Congress, since he occupied a seat in this 
Hall, his work will form a conspicuous jiart. 

Thousands of hearts have been made glad and thousands of 
homes uuide brighter, not only in Kansas, but in other States 
of the Union, by his ai<l, and tliousaiids felt a sense of personal 
loss wlien he died. I was a nu'inher of the committee which 
accompanied the remains of our lamented brother to his West- 
ern liome and assisted in the la-st .sad rites over them. No 
triluite we can hiing to the memory of our deceased friend can 
eipial that of the people of his own State and of iiis fellow 
townsmen, who, on our mournful jouriu-y through the State 
and at his funeral, vied with one another to show their sorrow 
and respect. \\'e Ibuml Ihi' State lilcialls in niouiiiiiii;. 'I'ln- 
people who congregated at the cajiital of the Slate and at the 
citv of ills residence were not drawn togetlu'r for a holiday or 



Life ivid Cltaractcy of I'ltstoii />'. PI it nib. !»!» 

fniiii idle curidsity. Evcrywiictc were seen I lie liadji'cs of 
iiiouniiiii;. ('poll every (•imntfiiancc iiiirei;;iu'(l soridw was 
il('lU(tf(l. On every side were the expressions of Itotli public 
loss and private sorrow. The general luanifestatioiis of sorrow 
were not so much lor the loss of a pulilie servant as for a per- 
sonal frieud. Few men in public lile luive managed to so 
identify themselves with the people and to secure tlieir love and 
contideuce. 

After we entered the State of Kansas, at nearly every station 
were the scarred veterans of the late war, with the flags of the 
Grand Army ])osts draped in mourning. The universal mourn- 
ing, the sense of sorrow and loss which pervaded the scene and 
seemed to hang like a leaden pall over the entire State and to 
dim the bright sunshine of the splendid December days, found 
its center and culminating point in the home and family of the 
deceased. Impressive indeed were the simple services in that 
far Western home, in the presence of the stricken wife and 
children, the mourning relatives aud intimate friends of the de- 
ceased. The solemnity and sacredness of the occasion made 
me almost feel as if my iJresence was an intrusion. In God's 
acre, near the city he helped to found and whose prosperity 
he ever labored to promote, in the State of his adoption, in the 
glorious sunlight of a December day, under the auspices of 
the Grand Army of the Republic, and with the touching aud 
beautiful ceremonial of thefi' order, the mortal remains of our 
lamented brother were committed to Mother Earth to await the 
resurrection day. 

His work is done. His restless activity, his tireless energy, 
no longer have part or lot in the affairs of earth. The seasons 
will come and go, spring flowers will grow about his grave, 
winter storms will beat upon it, but his senseless ear will not 
be reached with the voice of approbation or of censure. 

As death invades our ranks and removes a colleague from 



10(1 .hMnss of Mr. Dolpli, of Oregon, on lln 

our iiuiulx-r ami causi's a paiisc in tin- busy .scciu'S tif tin- 

Senate, how arc we lemiiided of tin- sliortness aud niicer 

taiiity <if liuinaii lit'cl Standing hy Ilie iicw-madf ^laves of 

Hearst, of Wilson, and of 1'nMH. aud mentally askiufc our 

selves who of (uir uumber will next he sinykMl out hy the grim 

areher, can we fail to l)e imju'essed with the vanity of earthly 

tliiiifis.' How insijjuilicani all I hose thiuj^fs for which we tuil 

are when we retleet that the end of earthly thinj^s will surely 

come to us as it came to them I Position, jiower, intlueuee, 

how little ean they minister for consolation at such a time! In 

such an houi- human sympathy is unavailing. There is hut 

one consolation, that wliicdi comes to stricken hearts from the 

hope that death is not the end of man. a belief that answers 

in the affirmative the (piestiou •• If a man die. shall he live 

again .'" aud enables its jtossessor to look forward to a n-iiniun 

with tlic loved aud lost beyond the gra\ c. where sickness and 

sorrow aud death can not enter. 

When the minister who conducted the religious services at 

his tuni ral suggested that although ills eventful and active 

life was closed here our dejiarted colleague might be entering, 

, in another world, upon the activitit-s of a nobler life whi<'h 
/ 
/ would be immortal, the remark seemed to bring to me the 

thought of a tuture life with new meaning, that of activity. 

usefulness, and tleveloi>mciit. Let us be consoled with tiic 

hope that the energies of our dcpaitcd brother have fouiul on 

wider fields and in more delightful employment o]>port unities 

for renewed activity. 

Socrates, when about to drink the hemlock, consuhil his 

friends by saying: •' If the soul be immortal and i>erpetual re 

wards be laid up for wise souls, then 1 lose nothing by my 

death; but. if it be not. then I lose nothing by my opinion: 

for it supports my sjjjrit in its jjassagi- aud the evil of being 

deeeJNcd can not overtake me wlien I have no being." 



[Jfc and Character of Preston B. J'/ioiili. l<il 

The Cliiistiiui does not, like Socrates, irn)[)e in darkness and 
uncertainty to tiiid the evidence of immortality, but Ids hope, 
built upon the proiriiscs coTitaincd in (lod's rexcalecl will to 
man. looks forward In a brighter lilc otctcrnall)less<'<lncss and 

j<»y- 



Address of Mr, Allison, of Iowa, 

■Mr. Allison. Mi-. President, as has been said, it is titling 
that we should from time to time occupy a brief period iu pay- 
lug tribute to our departed brethren in this body. Jly knowl- 
edge' of Senator Plt'JUS and ni\- relations to him during nearly 
the entire time of his service here make it Utting that I should 
say something on this occasion. His death was sudden and 
wholly unexpected to his associates in this Ohamber. He had 
jusr emergeil from active participation in the reorganization of 
the committees of this body, always a dltticult task at the be- 
ginning of a Congress. I remember that only a day oi- two 
before his death he said to me that that reorganization had 
taken much time and given him considerable anxiety, because 
of the large number of new Senators entering the body, and 
he was glad it had been so well and so satisfactorily arranged 
and dlsiiosed of, little thinking tor the moment that the next 
business of the committee of which he was an active member 
would be to arrange to fill the places which he himself occu- 
pied. 

1 shall not enter Into the details ol' the life and services of 
Senator Plumb prior to his entrance into this body. That has 
already been done .i;rai)hically by his colleague [Mr. Pefpek] 
and by others who have iireeeded me. It is a most interest- 
ing aud instructive story to those who may study his life and 
]niblic servi(-e. It disclose.s his aggressive spirit and his coni 



10-2 AiMrtss of Mr. Allison, of Iowa, on the 

l.alivc ii;itiiii', so well described l>y tin- Sinator tVoiu Virginia 
[Ml. Danikls). These were not only natural to him. hut in a 
hir;;i' (h"j;ri'f were thi- result of his early eduiatiou. training, 
and association. When lie souj;ht a lu'w home be migratod tii 
the new Territory nf Kansas, and douliiless the situation there 
iiidu.fd him to leave ids native Stale to participate in the 
struj;j:les there. No one knew better than he at that time the 
nature of the contest waginjj there. He has described to me 
many times the portion of that Journey whieh lay throuj;h my 
own State. He and his little l)and of companions landed on 
the west bank of the .Mississipjii, at l>aveni)ort, in Iowa, and 
and with wa;;«)ns containin« small arms and a L'-pounder held 
piece, in addition to their ordinary lugjjajre, they traversed the 

State of Iowa fr the Mississipjii to tln' ^Missouri. 

It was no holiday .journey to them. They were to take i)art 
in that great lueliminary contiict in the State of Kansas which 
shook this nation afterward and reverberated around the 
world. -Mr. I'l.iMU took active part in that eonllict from 1S.")() 
to 1S()1, and then in the larger contiict that followed, and, when 
that had ended, he retunu'd to Kan.sas and took an active i)art 
in the development and growth of the State. That growth 
was remarkable not oidy as to the cliaracter of its beginning, 
lint 111 all stages of its develoi)uient later on. His per.scniality 
was .so conspicuous, his ability was so well recognized among 
liis associates and .so commanding, as to make it fitting that 
the Legislature of the State should designate him as one of its 
Senators at the early age of 4(t. Hut few men, in the strug- 
gles and activities that lead to this Chamber, icaeh if at this 
e:'-ly age. I doubt if there are more than three or Ibui of 
tiiose now in this body who reached it at the age of 40. 

When I heard the distinguished Senator from Illinois [Mr. 
Palmer), m his able .speech this morning on his proposed 
amendment, reconiiting the dreams of the fathers of the ('on- 



Life and Cliaractcr of Preston />'. Pin))!!). 1()."3 

stitutidii ;is f(i what the Sciialc was liUcl.\ lo he, tlial is, tliat it 
would be cDUiposeil ol' tlic iimst ciiiiiicnl men nl' (lie se\-eral 
States, my mind recurred at (iiicc td kScnaldr l'i,i;:\m as a dis- 
tiiiiiuislied illustration ot tlie realization of thai dream, not 
only as respects bis beiuy cue ot the strongest men in his 
State, but also as au illustration ot the fact that duiinj;- all his 
period ot service liere he largely and trnl.\- icpresented the 
sentiment ot his State and its ]ieoi>le njion the public (|ues- 
tions that from time to time have appeared here for public de- 
bate and legislative action. 

I first becanu^ personally ac(iuainteil witii Senator Plumh 
on liis entrance here as a member ot this body. In March, 
1881, by the accidents and chances of this Chamber, it so hap- 
pened that three Senators from the Democratic side left the 
Senate who were members of the Committ(^e on Api)ropria- 
tions, leaving upon the committee as Democrats Senator Davis 
of West Virginia and Senator Beck, the Democrats having a 
nmjority of the committee during the Forty-sixth Congress. 
It so happened also that at that time the term of one i;e]nib- 
licaii Senator, also a nu'inber of the committee, ceased, and 
two other Rei)ublicans, Senator Blaine and Senator Windom, 
both members of the committee, were invited into the Cabinet 
of President Gartield. So but three members of the committee 
in the Forty-sixth Congress were left when the Forty-seventh 
began. The liepublican i)aity was in the majority then, and 
Senators Logan, Dawes, Hale, and Plumh were added to the 
Committee on Appropriations frcmi the Kepublican side and 
Senators Ransom and Cockrell from the Democratic side. 

Thns a majority of the members of the committee were new 
in its service, although Senators Logan, Dawes, and Hale had 
had large exi)erienc,e on the committee in the House <if Repre- 
sentatives. Thus newly organized the committee entered upon 
its imi)ortaut work. 



104 . Icidrcss of Mr. Allison, of Iowa., on the 

Senator Plimb entered upou the woi k with /cal and lMiiuj;ht 
to the consideration of the subjects considered his great ability, 
unlirin.i; industry, and active watchfulness, and soon became 
familial- with the work, and continued until the time of his 
death as one of its most etlicient, faithful, and devoted mem- 
bers. No task assigned him was left undone or partially done. 

lie patiently investijjati'il every detail, not only as to the 
bills in his special charj;e, but in committee gave full atten- 
tion to all the great approi)riation bills annually reported to 
carry on the (roxiiniiuiu. ami always participated in the 
debates that followed upon contested points in the Senate, 
thus contributing largely and actively in the solution of ques- 
tions coining from that committee. So in conference with the 
other House, tenacious of the views of the Senate, he was 
always willing to reach a conclusion by fair and just compro- 
mise of conflicting opinions developed between the two Houses. 
So that he was a most able, valuable, and useful meniber of the 
committee for ten years. 

During this time death has laid a heavy hand upon the mem- 
bers of the committee. First Gen. Logan, then Senator Beck, 
and last, but not least in any sense, Senator PiA'iin. 

Although not early trained in the arts of the schools, I need 
not say to nidi r members of this Chamber that he was one of 
its ablest and most accom]ilished debaters, not in the orna- 
nu'utations that characterized his speech, but in the persuasive- 
ness and power of his arguments. Whilst he always hail a 
purpose, anil a will to execute that purpose, he was patient in 
its accomplishment. T could give many illustrations of this. 
1 need give but one. For many years he desired, as did the 
peoi)le of the Southwest, not only the far Southwest, in Texas, 
but in the adjacent States of Missouri, Kansas, and Aikansas, 
that the Indian Territory, which was held tiiere as in a sack, 
slioidd lie oi)eneil up to settlement by the citizens of the United 



rjfe and Character of Prcsfoii />'. Pliinih. 105 

States, in ui<ler that that reyimi niiglit be more rapidly devel- 
oped. Indian treaties and oblijia lions to the five tribes were 
in the waj'. There were those who songht to ()])eii this Tt'rri- 
tory without re.iiard to our fri'aty oi)li;;ations with the Indians. 

If the statutes relating to this subject aud the debates lead- 
iufi' to their passage are examined, it will be seen that Senator 
Plumb was the pioneer in this Chamber, as I believe his suc- 
cessor, Mr. Perkins, was in tii(^ other, of a series of statutes 
that have resulted in the establishment of the Territory of 
Oklahoma, and which will result in the future in absorbing 
into a. single civilized State of the Union all there is now left 
of what was known for many years as the Indian Territory. 
Senator Plumb, with his energy, his watchfuluess of opi>ortune 
times, with his power of persuasion and liis patience, accom- 
plished as much if not more in this Chamber and iu Congress 
for the region that he more immediately represented than any 
other Senator upon this lioor, and I do not wish to disparage 
other Senators or their efforts. 

When he went to the Territory of Kansas it was sparsely in- 
liabited, aud only on the margin of its great river, and was 
practically an Indian reseivatiou. Its jirairies were as wild as 
the tiowers that grew ui)on them, and the streams of Kansas 
Lad only recently reflected the face of the white man, if we 
except the travelers that crossed it to tlie Pacific Ocean. 
When the State of Kansas was admitted in IS(;i it had only a 
fraction over one hundred thousand jieople. So even when 
Senator Plumb came into this Chamber many of the questions 
arising out of Indian reservations and homestead settlements 
and the oc<'upation of the public lands were unsettled and 
required legislation to make sure the titles to the lands of 
those who had taken homesteads or made xnirchases for homes* 
all of these difficult questions received his assiduous care. 

He was representing a new State, so truly characterized by 



Ulii .IMrtss of Mr. .Ulison, of hnca^ on the 

the Sciiatur fnnii Kansas, his colleagrm- [Mr. IVHcr]. as a State 
abiii'iMial in its growth, which is without a paiallel in the liis- 
tory ofauy State iu the Union. That growth canictl into the 
State of Ivausas. dining his service of fourteen years in this 
(.'iianiher, a i)o])uiali(in e(|nal to one-half of the present popn- 
hitiou. So Senator I'UMI! liad not only tiie.se great interests 
in iliis Chamber to .support and subserve, but he liad also the 
l)rivate wishes and wants and needs of a new iind rajuilly 
growing constituency in the various Executive Departments. 

I have often thought thai Senators in this Chamlier repre- 
seutinu more easterly States have but little knowledge of the 
immense detail of business that a representative in this Cham- 
ber of a Western State has as res])ects the i>ublic lands, as 
re.spects ipiestions growing out of the Indian situation, and 
above all as respects questions growing out of the i)ension 
legi.slatioii and the needs of ai)i)licants for pensions. A recur- 
rence to the statistics of pensioners will disclose the fact that 
in proiiortion to the population the State of Kansas has a 
larger number of pensioners than any other State in this I'nion. 
The tendency of the men who .served in the war and who are 
drawing ]tensions from our (lovernment was for many years to 
migrate westward from the older States of the rnion. There- 
fore it was that Senator I'l.iMi! had upon his shoulders during 
the fourteen years of his juiblie .service not only the great (|ues 
tioiis which always arise art'ectiug the whole country which he 
participated in here so fully and .so ably in debate and other- 
wise. 1 ml he also had other great questions of a special and 
local character requiring legislation and careful attention in 
the Departments. All the.se required con.stant and continuous 
elVoit. So lie was. as stated by the Senator from Missouri 
[.Mr. Cockrell|. a worker in season and out of season. 

But with all this he had an ambition above and beyond, .so 
well stated by his colleague, and that was an ambition to sue- 



Life am/ C/i<inni,T of Pirsfoii Ik Plumb. 



107 



<-C('d in ;i business way. U'liiist, in' \v;is cnpi.iicd iifir in liis 
l)ul)lie wink ;ni(i l.'Mvini; notliinii' uinloiic Unit rc(|ninMl his at 
tentiini, lio i'niiaf;c(l in fntcriniscs and activities not only in 
his own State, hut in nuiiiy other States, lie had <aut;lit that 
si)irit ot'siteeiilation and tiirift and euer.uy in<-identio tiie new 
State, of Kansas, whieh inclined liini to make ventures in oth<T 
fields of investment, where safe and protitable. 

He often differed with his party friends in tliis Cluunber as 
re.Spects public measures, and did not hesitate to ex])ress his 
views with eourajie. T.ut he also believed that in a free gov- 
ernment like ours we would in the future as heretofore have 
government by party as respects iiublie policies and public 
measures; so he always acted with the Itepublican party, and 
was one of its leaders, because he believed that it more nearly 
reflected his views upon great public (luestious than any other. 

So, IMr. President, I i)ay this brief tribute to om- departed 
friend, knowing how imperfect it is. 

His career is one of the most rennirkable and unique in our 
history. Without early opportuidty, such as is the fortune of 
most of those who enter this Chamber, by his ability, his 
energy, his force of charaeter, he forged his way to the highest 
lilace of power and influence in this body and in the couutry. 
His a.ssociates here, tin- people of his own State, and the 
eouutrv at large mourn his loss and revere his memory. 



ADDRESS OF Mr, TURPIE, OF INDIANA. 

Mr. TuRriK. Mr. President. Preston B. Plumb, the late 
Senator from Kansas, was an excellent type of the class of 
statesmen belonging to the era which followed the civil war. 
Ilis public or ofticial life c(jmmenced during the period of that 
great confliict, and in its course was nearly equall.N divided l)e- 



l((^i Address of Mr. Ttirpii. of Iitdiaiia, on the 

tweeu sfixice to liis Stat<' ami tin' iiatimi. Liviiij,' in a dcliat- 
alili' and holder laiiil, wlicic siiioilificd war was the comlitioii 
loiij;- bt't'orc liostilitips hccame llayraiit, .schooled l)y the roiiy:h 
discipline incident thereto, he had heen a sol<lier even before 
he joined Ihe army of the Union. His liearing was always 
tliat of the soldier: not tin' trained rej,MUai-. hnl the \(ilnnteer 
who liad laktMi up arms for a certain cause with_a certain pur- 
pose. 

Chosen to a .seat in the Senate of the United .States at the 
aye of Kt. without i)re\ious ( "oii.uicssional experience, he from 
the first took and always afterwards retained a conspicuous part 
in the del)ates and i)roceedin<;s of this branch of the National 
Lej^islature. Such a position, under these circumstances, could 
only ha\e heen assumed by one of quick apprehension, of su- 
perior address, stronj^ convictions, and jiowers of rapid {gen- 
eralization, traits in his cliaractcM- well marked ami recof;ni/.ed. 
Mis freiiuent participation in debate did not lessen his work 
in private conference oi- in the committee room. 

The cast of liis niiml was in all tliiii.iis practical. He was 
thoroujihly devoted to the realities of life. To he of usi — of 
present use — to those whom he immediately reiireseiitcd and 
the larfier constituency of the whole country, this was the 
aim of liis aiuhn ion. In the puisuit <ii' it lir cxiiihitcil a iios- 
pitality of S]iirit, an expansive .symjjathy, and an enthusiasm 
ever fresh; welcomed cheerfully all labor, all dilUculties. all 
detiactions which niisht attend it. Thoujih ordinarily a zeal- 
ous and steadfast jiartisan, he sonietiiiu's let't the cani]p of ids 
political associates to slainl upon what lie dc4'med to lie the 
.side of the ])eoi)le. 

<'liar;red in conversation upon a rcceiil occasion ol'this sort, 
half jocosely, with desertion, lie answered, "I am no deserter; 
I have joined — 1 have oiiIn just now joined— .-the force to w liicli 
I helonj,' in this lijilii." 



Life and C'/i(yrnrfrr of Pirs/oit /!. riiimb. I(i'.» 

ThoUffh 111' tV('(|ii('iilly jiddicssccl tlic ScuMtc lie diil init coir 
fiiit' liiinscir to ;i siii<il(' tlioiiic. lie s|>okc. niul sjiolic will, 
upon ;i wide riliiji'c of subjects. 

The style was like the iiiaii, idhiisl, eaincst, aliiiiiated. 

The salient points of a (|Ucstioii he selected with inieirini; 
diseeninieiit. (>ii these he dwelt — seldom made oi' sull'ered a 
diversion. His manner of reasonini; was Incisive, direct, lie 
often tra\'eled across lots to a conehision stated with clearness, 
foice, and Inevity. lie dealt not much w itii the old ])ast oi' its 
history, not even with that of his own country. The past for 
him was tlu' period. just l)efore the war. It was not often that 
he alluded to a date more ancient. Indeed, in a life crowded 
with action he had not nuich opportunity, perhaps little taste, 
for contemplative study or research. 

To the questions of the day he gave the answeis of the "lay, 
of the hour, as they were sugj;ested liy a mind self taught, 
well furnished, and of singular \igor and originalit.\'. 

From the multiplicity of his laboi's and manifold variety of 
the public affairs in which he was employed and concerned, it 
is not probable that he usually iiuide more than one examina- 
tion of the sultject in argunu'nt. lie looked but once, but in 
that one loolc he saw more than most of us. lie was too much 
hurried to have derived his strength from prolonged deliber- 
ation; it came rather from his swiftness of vision and his ca- 
])acity instantly to summon his intellectual faculties at their 
best to his snpi)ort. Leisure he did not desire; he had not 
reached that period of life when one of his mental character- 
istics might have enjoyed it. 

After a service of nearly fifteen years in this body, he died 
at the age of 54. He had scarcely passed ihe midsummer of 
his days. Autumn may have slightly tinged his views of men 
and things in the world as he had at first seen them, but he 
had taken no measured retrospect even of his own career; the 



IIU .IMrcss of Mr. Tiirph\ of Indiana^ on tJic 

winter of ajre he had not It-It. ("oiilil lie liavc tairitMl with us 
loiijliT, iciiiainiiii: as he wuiihl a iiii'iiihiT ol' tins Ixxly, what of 
profit luijiht we not have t-xpccted aud received from tlie {gath- 
ered wisihiin. the reasoned experience from the hirj^e {:ro\vth 
in statesmanship wliicii most certainly awaited his maturer 
years ? 

Wliat can any account be of such a life, closiu}^ so prema- 
turely, but a sketch? The life itself was merely an outline, a 
design unfinished. 

I recollect very well an e]o(|ui'iit dif^iession of this Senator, 
which we heai'd with dclij^ht duriu}^ thesession of the last Con- 
jjress. The immediate subject of discussion was irri<;ation. 
Some measure relatinjr to this then pending, as he thouylit, 
involved the exclusion from actual settlement of large areas of 
the pulilic lands containiiij;' sources and stores of water, and 
with this also much larger tracts adjacent, dependent upon 
these sources for supply. He made a cursory review of the 
general land policy of the Government, showing what a rich 
inheritance had been once in possession of I lie jieojile; how 
the preemi)tioii and the liomestead laws had made the jjoorest 
man an heir thereof. 

He deplored t lie methods in wliich iiiis iiiagniliceiit patri- 
mony had lieeii wasted, the way in which homes had been 
hindered, harmed, and destroyed by profiis(> and extravagant 
grants and subventions to schemes of corporate s])eculation, 
Ue said that in the home of the husbandman ufioii his small 
subdivision of SO or ICO acres, dotting the long lines of double 
frontier apiiroacliiii;^ each other tVoiii either seaboard — t1iat in 
these lay the strength, the defense, and fortress of American 
liberty, and that the residue of this estate, as far as his action 
niiglit avail, should in the future be faithfully administered to 
the end that these lioni(!s, the citadels of freedom, might be 
multiplied and i c|ilenislicd. The close of his reniaiks was suf 



Life and ('haracler of rrc^^ton A', rinnib. HI 

rase<l witli ;i piitlios rmrly licnnl in tliis prescMicc. Many Sena- 
tors loft tlicir soats ti> t.'ii.lcr liiin tlifir coiifiiatulatioiis upon a 
declaration so I'rank, so nianil'cstly sincere; which attracted as 
much attention elsewhere as in this liouse. 

Thou.u-h not tiiou.ulit ol' at the time, this proved to l>e his 
final expression of opinion upon this sul)iect, a suhjeet t() 
which he had devoted many years of uureniittiug toil and 
solicitude. Oiu'conld hardly have wished for a noliler endin--. 
As onr departed brother lived in haste, so he died. Thouf^h 
well versed in and faithfully observant of the rules and usages 
of the .Senate, it seems that up(t!! this occasion he neither asked 
nor obtained leave of absence. He is absent without leave- 
without our leave, not without the leave and order of the All- 
wise Master of Assemblies presidiu.i; in the councils of the just. 
He left us with little notice or warning, without ceremony, 
without much ado. We may fancy his revisitiui;- shade enter- 
ing to-day this Chamber, hushed in quiet, would ask. as his 
manner was, brusquely, but kindly, "Why should there have 
been any ceremony? Summoned by such a messenger, I must 
needs go and go at once." Or, indeed, why should tlieie be 
anything of ceremonial following the death of the heir jire- 
sumptive of an ancient and mighty kingdom which should not 
also attend the demise of this prince, not presumptive or ap- 
paient, but reigning, crowned and throned in the hearts of the 
people, sovereigns of a wide donuiin, who gave to him his title, 
who claimed and received his homage and his most loyal 

service ''. 

The district and state of death form only a vast democracy 
in which all are e(pmls; yet when one who has been ennobled 
by the people dies the eventmay be well noted, that those who 
live, are yet to live, may learn the worth, the way of this 
advancement, wherein may be read the story of a life, in any 
earthly sense too short, broken and interrupted, quite worthy 
of renu-mbrance. 



Ill' .IM/Tss of Mr. Hali\ of Maine, on the 

A cliild born far from the luirplc. rcari'd in povi-ity and oh- 
sciirity, who in his ynnth walked Imoyantly enough alnnjj the 
coniiuon path awhile, by his unaidt-dcliort and cajjacity strotle 
from lieiglit to Iicij^bt. until bi- bad neithi-r faintly nor dimly 
inscrihi'd bis name anion;;' tlie lawgivers and i-ulers of a great 
nation. And iliere ilie curtain falls; a famous actor, busied 
with the seeue, deeply engaged in bis part, suddenlj' (juits tlie 
stage, nevi-r to be called back. 

Not the thundering ])Iandits of encore from tbe listening 
multitudes who but last snnimei' bung upon tbe accents of bis 
stirring eloquence, not fie teuderest appeals of tbose nearer 
voices, whose ligbtest whisper be bail been wont to regard, 
none of tbese now reach or toucb bini. 

Tbe curtain, fallen for a brief space, is rai.sed again. One 
of the most notable characters therein has unconsciously made 
his hist appearance. Tbe drama proceeds. 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Hale, of Maine. 

Mr. Hale. Mr. President, after all thai has lieeii so well 
said I can only speak of tbe late Senator from Kansas as we 
saw him iierc. When lie died this body lost one of its ablest 
meinl)i-is. Wherever Mr. Pltmb was he made himself felt, 
and Ibis tlooi a Horded a lining arena lor the display of bis gi'eat 
aiiilities. Few imitortant measures in tlie i)ast tilteen years 
liave liecome laws without the belj) (d' bis forming band. I-"ew 
sclicmes of doubtful wisdom liave gone to their grave without 
licing assisted thereto b\ liim. Ilis aiti\ity and energ.\ were 
immense, and Ids investigation and reUection covered the widest 
range of subjects. His service upon imjiortant committees was 
so faithful that wbcnexer a meeting was called it found him 
])resent, prepared and ready for work, lb- niadi'this his busi- 
ness, and if be had donlits to iaiseandobjectionstoiirgethe.se 



/,//('■ and Cliaractcr of Prcsloii /!. riitiiil). ll.'J 

were liist bniiii;lil liirwai'd in (lir coliiiMil Ice idoiii. lie was in 
this I'csjicct an example wlioin we will (In well ti> I'dIIiiw. 

On this tkior he never clianiiiidnrd a measure witlmnl lirst 
studying' it t'lMin all sides, and uo man lieie euuld maintain his 
eanse better than .Mr. I'LUMB. lie was li\ nature at;j;ressi\-e, 
and I think all ofus felt that we were undertaking adangerous 
busines.s when we opposed hiui, and that we needed to bi; armed 
and equipped most eoiui)letely, else our diseomtiture would be 
certain, ine\itable. Jle scrutinized closely all important bills, 
and whenevei-, as the result ot such scrutiny, he became the 
a.'^sailant, the Senator who had charge of the bill s<i assailed 
needed to have all his wits about him if he woulil save his 
measure. 

Not a few of us have felt keenly w,tuiids received in en- 
counter \vith ]\Ir. Plumb ; but however sharply we may have 
differed with him I think we have all felt that tht^ warfare 
was lionorable, and that in the thrust and ])arry of debate the 
deceased Seuatiir was a fair and oftentimes generous antago 
nist. He coiUd not help being positive; his whole lite from 
boyhood had been active, earnest, and, whenever the need 
arose, belligerent. 

His colleague, in a eulogy wliich I have never seen surjjassed 
liere and which s(>emed to me to l)e a model for such an occa- 
sion as this, has told us the most intere.sting story of that life, 
built up as it was by never-ceasing activity and effort. None of 
his successes were accidental; his great triumphs were hardly 
eai-ned. The ix'ople of a great State loved and honored him 
and placed uu<|ualiiicd trust in him. The people of a greater 
nation were conung to know him and to properly estimate him, 
and he was at his best when death knocked at his door and 
would have entrance. Longer service here would have made 
his public life of still greater value, for he was growing every 

(lay; but this was not to be. 
S. Mis. 228 8 



114 ^Iddrcss of Mr. }IaU\ ojMaini, on the 

Ui.s souial .side was of the kiml that makes it pk-asaiit to 
ivcall it. His attachments were stroiifr and lie loved to be 
wiili Ills friends, and in every company where he was found he 
added to tlie sum of cnjoyiiiiiil . lie was a lilieral yiver. and 
in the many drafts which I ha\'e known made ui>on his gener- 
osity I do not recall one wiiich he did not honor, and those 
wlio knew him i)est will long remember the unproclaimed 
charities wliicli lietiowered Ins jiathway all through life. 

Our deceased colleague, Mr. I'resident, wore himself out 
before his time. He hardly knew the meaning of the word 
rest. No man here i>nt as many working hours into each day 
as he, and his work was always done at highest pressure. He 
had Mo idle moments. He was constantlj' investigating, read- 
ing, and thinking, and so it came about that at an age wln^n 
the best i)art of his life ought to ha\e been before him all 
the niachin<'iy of his being suddenly siojiix-cl; it conhl run \\<i 
longer. His work was done, although much is left to do in 
which he, as we look at it, ought to have a part. 

This great body has never loo much of the earnestness, the 
assiduity, the experience which Mr. Plumb furnished to its 
service. 

The Senate, though it is beyond tlie constant fluetiiations 
which are a feature of the other branch of the National Legis- 
lature, is yet a greatly shifting a^ssembly. Mr. Tlumb, at the 
time of his death, had been a Senator lor almost lifteen years. 
There arc liere but seven who have .seen longer continuous 
service. They are Senators Morrill, Sherman, Ransom, Alli- 
son, Jones of Nevada, Dawes, and Coekrell. Six others took 
seats in this Chamber at the same tinu-witli Mr. Pn ■:mi!. Ail 
the rest of us, .seventy-five in all, are, (•omi)aratively speaking, 
new Senators. 

Mr. Presid(!nt, the old landmarks here ai'c disappearing. 
Death, withdrawal, the mutation of |ioliii<-s, eat them away. 



Lift- and Character of J'ns/oii B. J'lituil). 115 

Now an oalv iii lln' forest lias fallen. W'liich of us. as we look 
at tliat seat wliieh lie held so loiii^. does not, throU.i;li liieliioiy's 
visia, behold that lun-yed front, that aggressi\c i)reseiiee, tiiat 
intrepid, ruthless eonibatant? And which of us, seoiiif; that he 
is not there, does not feel that in his ec'lijjse there has passed 
from sight a most couspieuous tij^ure of the United States 
Senate! 

Mr. I'EFFEK. Mr. President, the .senior Senator from New 
Jersey [Mr. McPhersonJ desired to take part in these memorial 
exercises, and he expected to do so until yesterday, Avhen he 
was suddenly called away froni the city; so that, very much 
to his regret and to our disappointment, it is not ])ossible for 
him to be with us to-day. 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Chandler, of New Hampshire. 

Mr. CnANDLEK. Mr. President, the nt>table incidents in the 
life and career of the lamented Preston B. Plumb, as citizen, 
soldier of the Union, and Senator of the United States, have 
been recited by the senior Senator from Kansas and other Sen- 
ators with minuteness, accuracy, and Justice. Mr. Plumb's 
words and deeds have impressed themselves ui)on the minds 
of his ])eople, and their influence for good has been felt far 
beyond the contines of his own Commonwealth. His public 
record will continue to stand a proud memory to Kansas, to 
the great West, and to the nation, each of which he served 
with untiring industry and with unsurpassable zeal and tidel- 
ity, inspired by a spirit of the broadest and truest patriotism. 

It is permitted to me to give voic(^ to my impressions of the 
characteristics of Senator Plumb, derived from an acquaint- 
ance of years, disturbed by no cfuitroversies or discords. 
Phvsically he was a typical American, strong, erect, athletic, 



116 Address of Mr. C/iaiid/tr, of Xcw Haiiipsftirc, on llic 

and aii'it. Wliercver In- wi-iit his beaiiiif; t'lialleiij;c'd attcii- 
tioii, siijijiesti'il nowiT, and commanded admiration. It sci-ms 
that he had soiiu' jiivmonitions of i)Lysical weakness, but tliis 
was iiidvUinvn to mc. 1 discovered none and he mentioned 
none in two h)nj;' eouversatious which I hehl with liim at tlie 
lieji'innint; of the present session of Conjiress. lie was the 
last jiiTson in the Senati' whom I wouUl liave expected to see 
suddenly and fatally strn<k down, and to me till the last he 
was a splendid .sj)ecinien of American maidmod. 

Senator Pli'MB's intellectual traits wcri' not obscure even 
to a limited observe!'. .Vcuteiiess of peree])tion, directness in 
his mental processes, camlor and fairness in reasoninj:f, fullness 
of information, ami a vi\id imaginati(ni. all manifesteil throiij;li 
nuiisnal tliiency of s))eech, made him formidable in e.Ktempo 
raneiius deliate. His was a rare and ,i;ifted mind: not a rouj^h 
diamond, altlumjih not polished by literary cnltiire in the halls 
of learning; a mind exiianded, matured, and made symmetrical 
ami brilliant by lonji years of contact and lionoral)le contiict 
with intellects developetl by experiences like his own. 

His attainments were by no means provincial. After coming; 
into |iiil)lir life his restless mind w andereil ihron^h many fields 
of iiKiuiry, and his general knowledge was ample. Our friend 
was wont to s])eak slightingly, half in jest and half in earnest, 
of the needs of onr diplomatic service abroad. Yet he wotild 
li:i\ e made a most credit aide foreign minister, would have easily 
ada|)ted himself to the surroundings of a di])lomatic lite, aiul 
would have been a favorite with all whom he met. Like soiiu' 
other re])reseiitati\es wliom we ha\(' sent abroad, notably the 
(list inf^nisiied (nii. Kulieri ('. Selienek. by liis plain, straight 
forward American ways he wnnld have commanded resi)ect and 
would have done honor to the great Ke](ublic. 

The use wliicii Seiiatol Pl.l'MB made of his great pliNsical 
and mental gilts was wholly commendable, lie labored tor 



Life and Cliaractcr of Pycslon /-'. I'luuih. 117 

liiriiscir ;inil liis r.iiiiily and aft|iiiicil a liandsoiuc tuitunr. 
"Scest tlioii a mail (lilifiLMit ill his Imsiiicss; he shall slain! lic- 
I'oic Iciii-s; he shall not stand before mean lurn." \\\\\ in- w\s, 
li'ctfd no public duly. He was uiircniil I in.i;- in his altcntion to 
Sciiarorial (lurstioiis. I*'c\v Senators maintained so lai'};e ;l 
eorrespolidenee as lie did willi his eoiist itnents. The settle- 
ment of vexed i|Ueslioiis eoiieeriiinn' the (mlilic lands, of the 
eoininittee on which he was the head, received his best tlioiiuht. 
and his most eariP'st woilc. Tlu' allairs of the District of 
<'oliiiubia he knew by heart; and as ehairiuaii of the siibeoiii- 
tiiittee of the (J(niiraittee on Apjuopriatioiis, in chari;'e of the 
District appropriation bill, he was a eonstaiit and faithful 
guardian of the prosperity of the Nation's Capital. 

He studied ecoiioinic unestioiis with avidity and discussed 
them with iutelligeiice and ariiteness. On no mooted subject 
of legislation ilid lie intend to be without information and au 
opiniim; and no predictions could safely be made as to the 
result of any important debate witlnuit taking into a-ccount 
the etfect of his participation. ITe spared him.self no labor of 
investigation, was piiiietual in his atteiulaiie.e, shrunk from no 
responsibility, was fearless in his speeches and his votes, and 
his career will unquestionably be recordeil in the history of his 
own State as that of an indomitable, cai»ahle, thoroughly in 
formed, eloquent, and patriotic American Senator. 

Yet to this man, ajipareiitly in robust and perfect health 
and destined to many years of life and labor, a sudden end 
came through overwork. It is a common remark that the in- 
valids live the longest. They are careful and prudent, while 
the stalwart men tax tlieir energies to the utmost and otteii go 
down incmaturely like the friend we mourn. In tin- prime of 
life, at the age of tifty-four, smhlenly, and with little warning, 
absent from his wife and his children, this great, powerful man 
passed away from life, and we shall hear his voice ami see his 
face no more. 



lis Aihiriss of Mr. Chandler, of New Hawpshirc, on tin- 

<)|' Ilic iiiiiiiy Ifssuus to l>i' taken tn litMit by tlic associates 
of till' ilcail Sciialiir. tau;rlil by liis startling il>|iainin' anil by 
till' ri'i-eut ileatlis of othiT conspicuous personages. I will sug- 
gest but two, the oue most evident being the trite waruing of 
the ihity of constant reailiness to surrender the possessions of 
this life and to lueel the mysteries of tiie next. -Aniong all 
things that arc done under the sun," the Psalmist says there is 
one event which cometh alike to all, " for man also knoweth not 
his time." Yet strangely does it ai>i)ear, says a i>hiloso|)hical 
writer, Ilial Ihe very la|)se of lime wliiili brings death neam 
to us makes us less mindful of its approach. Apparently, 
the longer we live the surer we are that ileath will not come. 
The habit of living excludes the idea of dying. We think it 
natural that others should go, but igiuire our own dangi-r. 
This is unwisdom. With no tre])idation or slavish fear, liut 
oonstantly mindful tiiat the eiul is not far otf, we slnmld per 
form our daily duties and reverently walk the i)ath which is 
nightly bringing us oiu' tlay's luarcii nearer the eternal lioine. 

liut while keeping ourselves always reasonably mindful of 
the certainty of death, we should also cultivate tlii^ iiu>st fer 
vent faith in the .soul's immortality. We can not know, but 
M-ecan feel ami believe, that death opens to us the jiortals of a 
new and higher life. Indeed, we all resolutely refuse to believe 
that annihilation is possible. The thoughtful writer of the 
Kidgmas of Life calls attention to what he says is a uni 
versal experiem-e, that when we enter the apartment of the 
dead and looli upon the I'aceof the tVieml t'oi- whom \\ e mourn 
we never have the feeling that the departed one is there. 
Reverently and ti'iiderly we treat the renuiins. But the mind 
we knew we do not coiu-eive is pre.sent with us. We i'eel that 
llic soul, if it exists, has gone elsewhere. Why should It not 
t'xist? It is true we have noju-oof. It is a part of the Divine 
order that we shall not have proof, but that by faith alone 



Life and Character of Prrshni A', riiimb. H'.t 

whilo iM'iv wr si, Mil t:ik.' li.il.l -I' ct-Tnily. I'.nl xvilli on.' iiiii 
versil a.'n.nl inaiikin<l utters tlir .■(.n.-lnsion ..f I 1h' -real i-o.'!, 
-It nnistl.rs,.;" not nl..iu" lu'cnusr ot \\^v plrasin- l,..]..'. Hh" 
f.m.l drsirc, the Ion-ill- alter iiiunortality. l.nt l.eeause irre 
sistible intuition •■onvinecs us that the sculs ..f men xvlios.- 
existenee we have, felt ami known, that our own s,.uls,..f whose 
present bein- we are conscious ami sure. .lo not -.. forwanl lo 
annihilation. How an.l where the soul .'xists here in eonn.'e 
tion with our mortal bodies, whether wakin- or sleeping, w.- 
,1„ not have the faintest conception. But we know it does 
exist, and both sentiment and instinct tell us that it will exist 

forever. 

Whether we consider the bright and innocent child with his 
rapidlv developing brain, or the strong man in his pride of 
manhood, or the aged sage, with apparently failiT.g powers, we 
are impresseil with the conviction that while what we see is 
mortal and destructible the souls which we do m)t see are 
imperishable and eternal. " Though our outward man perish, 
yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 

Therevelationsof astr.momy are ni..st marvelous; myriads 
of suns and planets roll through illimitable space millions upon 
millions of miles distant fr.mi the globe which we inhabit, in the' 
contemplaticm and comprehension of which ^Ye bow onr heads, 
oppressed 1)V the sense of our own insignificance. Yet is it 
u.,t even more w.M.derful that the nund of man can define the" 
orbits of these heavenly bodies and measure the paths through 
^yhich thev are destined to keep their lu^ver .'nding course? 
Shall the mind of hin. wim without the sight of th.^ planet 
Neptune disc.vered his existen.'c by ealculations from the per- 
turbations of Uranus and dinM^ted all telescopes to the point 
in the skies where he appeared at the time predicted; shall 
the mind of him who can fix the dimensions and describe the 
quabtiesof the most brilliant and bla/ing Hirius. a n.illion a.,.l 



120 A<Mnsso/Mi. Il',j///uj//, o/' .U/ss/ssip/>i\ on the 

:i half limes I'artlicr IVnm tliis cartli lliaii (lur sun, lie extiii- 
;;iiisli('(l Ijwaiisc the mortal tVaiiie lias jierished ? No such 
li(i|iclcs.s iiiihclicr (Iocs astronomy pciinit. 

I'hi' iicart at once it liiiiiibles and rxalts, 
Lays it in ilnst ami calls it to theskios. 

Tlius inspired, liunian natnre revolts at the iilea ol' annihila- 
tion and imbues mankind witli the universal faith that life here 
is Iiut a passing experience, wliosc^ end is the hcfjinuing of a 
iiol>lcr existence in another sphere. 

Our little life 
Is interwoven willi tin' uuiviTM' 
Of God's eternal coun.sels. Wi- are part 
Of till' whole lainily in lit-aviMi anil earth — 
The many are in heaven, the few on earth — 
Part of the inif;lity host who.se foremost ranks 
Lonj; sinee have irosseil the river ami have ]>itched 
Their tents upon the everla.-ting hills. 



Address of Mr. Walthall, of Mississippi. 

^Ir, W.M.TIIAI.I.. Mr. I'rcsidcnt, wlicii I cnti-rcd the Senate, 
a .stranger to most ol its meinhers and w ithont experience in 
the business of legislation, 1 was attracteil to liic late Scnaioi- 
l'j>rJlB by his cordial gieetingand his generous offers of assist- 
ance in the new duties which were before lue. 1 was assigned 
to the Committee mi Public Lands, ami served there, with him 
as eiiaii'tnaii. until ids death. Tiicre and lieie and elsiw lieic 
1 had sucli [(root's of his sincerity and good will and witncs.sed 
sucii exhibitions of his uneommoii jiowers that 1 desire to avail 
myself of tiie privilege which this occasion affords to say a 
word in ie<-ognilion of his \irtnes as a man and a friend and 
to ex])ress my appreciation of his \;duc as a pnlilie servant. 



Life and CharacUr of /Vcs/oii />'. Pliinili. I'Jl 

Tliosc wild liiicu liiin liiiijitT ;iii' ;iIp1c In |ircscii( his ilistiiK^li vc 
(•li:ii:HifiisIics and liis life wiiik \\i(li inure coinplctcncss llian 
1 run, hut piobalil v ihiiinj; tlir last six years (if his lite none 
heic were nicnc ohservanl of liis earnest and loieclul eonise in 
Iliis liddy iir inoie ini]iiessed liy tin' ellecl i\ cness of his \if;(tr 
ons elforts aTid intense apiilicat i»iii. 

Ills intclh'c.tiial |iii\ver, his rare eapaeily fur wurk, his self- 
reliance and tireless assiduity, were recognized alike hy those 
who contVonled him and those w ho c()i">|ierated with him. His 
vifi'or of mind and body, his will power, and liis coui'aiic made 
him a jireiit factor lieic^ and a iirouiinent tigme in piihlic atten- 
tion. 

In the various hraiiehes of his k>.i;'islativ(^ duty iiis labors were 
incessant and productive, and throiinii them he toiudied tlie 
jiuhlic at more different points than most of his associates here, 
and left his impress u])on a i^'reater variety <d' interests and 
subjects. 

His useful and distiiiguisheil services to his constituents and 
his country are a part of the history of the times in wiiich lie 
fij^nred. His public iccord is before his conn fry men as he maiU- 
it for himself, and that jiresents him as the bii^ brained, busy 
man of work and power and intlnenee that he was. lint, sir, 
that record does not and can not tell of some phases of his char- 
acter and disposition which were well known to us, and I may 
be pardoned if I sii]iplement it by a brief reference to these, 
which, if )iortrayc(l. would make a lit complement to the Iiistory 
of his public work. 

Senator Plitjiu's native force bad never siillered impairmeiil 
from any unsubstantial and merel>' formal, conx'entioiial re- 
straints. The element of i)racticality in him was inborn, esseii 
tial, and (himinaiit, and In^ soiioht for and dealt with the sub- 
stance and not the form of things. In the |nnsuit of a ])urpose 
he was earnest and sanguine and sometimes impiilsixcly re- 



122 .ItMrrss of Mi. Jl'a/tfiall, of Mississippi, on the 

sc'iitt'iil III' u])i)(i,sitiiiii. liiii 111- Imrc III! iiiMlii'f ;iuil liarlmrcil no 
spiiit 1(1' retaliation; and, althinifih his inojiiiliti's, likt' all else 
ill liini. were stroiijr, tliey were never beyond the reach of rea- 
son. Of mere eini)I> observances he was but little rejjardful. 
rnnicaninj^ formalities he neiiher ina<-ticed nor resjjected, and 
had MO taste uor toleration foi tin' mere linselwork and <'m- 
bellishnients of ceremonious disjiiaN. Tiie pretenses of hyjioc 
risy and all atfeclation and iin|Mistiires he readily detected and 
cordially despised. ( )\' nieic lip service and liattei-y he was im- 
patient even to abruptness. In his intercourse with men he 
disdained all counterfeit j;races, insincerity, and mannerism. 

r.nt. sir. thoujili brnsipie and stuidy and in all things essen- 
tially practical, our de|»arted associate was a j^enuin<'ly uracious 
man. lull of that real, uniirelentious ]ioliteness which can only 
come from a .just, innate (•once])tion of the consideration due 
the rights and sensibilities of others. Ilis heart was warm 
and generous and responsive. It ma^le him faithful and fear- 
less, hopeful anil strong. It made him inimll'nl oftlie wrongs 
and atllictions of others and ]tnt him in symjial liy with tlie 
toiling masses and the m-glected classes of his t'elh^w men. It 
made him true to his country and his frio^nds, and .supported 
him in his earnest and successful career in life. 

If he had been a man of colder blood and had steered his 
course by policy alone, if his manner had been gentler, if the 
angularities of his character had been reduced and his tendency 
at times toward aggression had been smIiiIuciI. if lie had been 
more considerate of himself and less .so of his duties and of his 
fellow men, his path had |)robably been smootheraiid his life, 
it may be, much iirolonged. Ibit. sir, he would m)t have been 
what lie was and ei mid not ha\ e accoiiipli-lied what he did. and 
one of till' most noticeable figures of his time would have been 
lost to the age we live in. In this imperfect tribute his in- 
dividmditv has been but faintlv marked, but I have sought in 



Life and Character of Preston B. Plitnilj. Vl\\ 

some measure to present it and ]ii(^ser\ e it. It is worthy to 
be reiueiiihered as it was, without ornaiiieiit or eoiicealiTieiit. 
It beloiig'eil ti) a nifi'u'ed, restless, earnest, and eoma.i;eoiis man 
ot woith and work and power, wiio l'oLii;ht his own way to sne- 
cess and hi.uli distinetion. Tiie lesson of his life is instru.'ti\e 
to us all and full of encouiayemejit to the asj)ii'ing- youth of 
the laud who may be beset by sueh difticulties as he eucouu- 
tered but to overcome. I would not dislii^iiie it or impair it 
by any empty words of indiscriminate praise. 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Perkins, of Kansas. 

Mr. Perkins. Mr. President, aj^aiu the Seuate has paused 
in its labors and suspended its imjiortant service to the i)eople 
of tlie country, that we may ]iay onr tribute of respect to a late 
disting-ui.shed Senator and lay upon his ,i;rave our rhetorical 
offerings of aijpreciation and love. 

On the 12th day of October, ls;j7, in the county of Delaware 
and State of Ohio, Preston 1>. Plumb was born, !>ut before 
lie readied the years of his majority he left the beautiful liills 
of his native State and became an active, earnest, and en 
thusiastie aiitislavery man upon the i)lains of the then Terri- 
tory of Kansas. In June, lS5t>, he located upon a claim near 
■where the city of Salina now is, but sul>sequently found em- 
ployment in a i)rintinj;- othce at Topeka, and during the winter 
of lS.">0-'.")7 was foreman of the Herald of Freedom oftice at 
Lawrence. Ivans. He had learned the i>riuting business in 
Ohio, serving an apprenticeship in the ollice of the Western 
Episeoi)alian at (Taml)ier and estaltlisliing when but 10 years 
of age the News at Xenia, Ohio, in connection with one J. W. 
Dumble. 

lam ill receipt ofa letter from a gentleman living in Chicago, 



121 .Iddrfss of Mr. I'likiiis, nj Kansas, on the 

liy I lit' name ol' Str<iii!;,\vh«) says that lii' was finiilnyi'il in 1855 
as a <'(iiiii)Osit()r by Mr. Pli'MB to assist in tin- jinblication oC 
the News, and he. says that Mr. Pi.lMH was a good j)rintfr 
and as fast a typesetter as any man lie ever worked with. 
IjIiI the piihlieation of a eountry ni'ws|ia|)er in Ohio did not 
in full measure satisfy the vifjorous ambition and restless eu- 
erj^y of this stroiif^. athletie youn;;' man, and, disposinjf of liis 
paper, he removed to Kansas, where he continued to reside 
until lie died in this eity on the L'dili day of December last. 

Mr. President, this is not an unmeaning ceremonial. A ^reat 
statesman, a wise and useful legislator, a devoted frieud. an 
eminent and patriotic citizen, is dead and now slee|)s in ])eace 
anil liiiiiiii- in the liosiiiii of the Stale he lii\eil so well and serveil 
with such faithful and laborious devotion. Strong, rugged, 
active, and indomitable, .Seimtor I'l, r:\iB seemed th»' iiuarna- 
tion of physical force and of intellectual ai-tivity. and his serv- 
ice in this Chamber was so long and his i)articipatiou in its 
proceedings so active and untiring that it docs not seem pos- 
sible that its portals ha\c lieeii closeil to him lore\er. In 1855 
and lS5t; Kansas was a wonderfully at tract i\e Territory to a 
yoiin;; man of the convictions, ability, strength, and coui-age 
of our late distiiiguishe<l <-olleague, and from the day he re- 
moved thereto until the liour of his untimely death in this 
city he was one of its consi)icuous figures and certainly one 
of its most potential characters. 

Kansas had begun to be .settled in 1854, directly after the 
l)assage of the Nebraska bill, aiul iuid inevitably become an 
arena of strife and violence. ( 'oloiues weri' sent tliither from 
tlie free States expressly to mold lii-r to the uses of free labor 
and to dedicate her beautiful prairies to the cause ol' Irecdom. 
while weaker colonies were sent thither from tiie South to bind 
her to the car of slavery. These colonies Inun the South were 
supplemented and strengthened by ini-ursions of .Missourians, 



Life and Cliaradcr of Preston //. riunib. VIX^ 

tliorou.ulilyninicil and rrady lor aii\ work llial would aid tlicad- 
luiiiistiatioii and assist in rastcnin.u upon I he plains of tlif UfW 
Territory tlic liiiiiiili;ilini;' conditions ot slave laboi. Thi' con 
ti'ntious of that (icriod are historical and arc only adverted to 
to siisijic^t that in tliat early stru.u'.de tlie sympathies, activi -, 
tics, anil iahors of :Mr. I'LUMB were witli tlie free-State men. 
lie was a member of a compauy of five persons who hiid out 
the city of Kmporia. in February. 1857. and it is the home of 
his family at this time. His love for newspaper work liad not 
abated, and earl\- in IS57 he, with others, established the Em 
poria S'ews. and he .uave to the enterprise his personal and 
laborious attention. 

Almost at once the paper look rank as ammii; the most ably 
edited in the Territory, ami it became a jjoteiit factor for good 
in the liiowth of the youn- city and in the settlement of the 
new Territory. The pai)er is still published under the old 
name, although Mr. Plumb had n<> connection with it for 
many years. Mr. Plumb was a, delegate to a nundiei- of Ter 
ritorial free-State conventions, always advocating the most 
radical measures of the antislavery i)arty. In 1858 he was 
elected a delegate to the Leavenworth <'onstitutional conven 
tion, anil although among its most youthful membeis he exer- 
cised great influence and became one of its most active and 
conspicuous representatives. In 1859 he returned to Ohio for 
the i)uriM)se of attending the law school at Cleveland. Here 
he pursued his studies for two terms, when he retuined to 
Kansas and was admitted to the bar in 18(;i and o])cned a law 
'oftice at Emiioria. lie at once took high rank as a lawyer and 
secured a profitable practice. 

In 18<iL' he was elected a member ot the Kansas house of 
representatives and served as chairman of the judiciary com- 
mittee. Shortly after this he was appointed repoiter for the 
supreme court of the State, bat soon resigned that he might 



r2t) Address of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas, on the 

serve ill tlif tifld willi A cuniiiaiiv ol' iiicii he liad reeruitetl for 
the Kleveiirli Kansas ^'(>]ullteeI■s. He was umstt'reii iiitntlie 
seivice as seeDlitl liciltelialit of ('oiii|iaiiy C of siicli rej;iiiieiit. 
anil served successively as second lieutenant, captain, major, 
• anil lieutciiantcolonc], and duiii;; luncb of the service of tlie 
rejiiiiuMit lie was its coniniandinfi oftieer. As a soldier he was 
|iroini>t. untiiinji. and iniiietuuus. At times it was ditlicult for 
liini to conform to military rejiulations and to observe the con- 
ventionalities of military life, but lie shared with his men the 
hardships of the campaij;n and jiossessed their coiilideiiee and 
good will, and he never eoiumaiided them to go where he was 
not willing to lead. 

Subseciuently in jirivate and public lite lie esteemed it a per- 
sonal favor to be able to serve a memlier of his old regiment, 
and when the intelligence was Hashed along the electric wires 
that Senator Pn mh was dead every comrade of the Eleventh 
Kansas found his eyes filling with tears and his heart aching 
with sorniw at tlie sad intelligence as he recognized that the 
loss was not only a great one to the State and nation, but to 
him it was a jiersonal bereavement. At the close of the war 
.Mr. Plimb resumed his law practice, and was again elected 
to tile Kansas house of repre.sentatives in 18(56 and again in 
18(i7. During his service in the legislature in 18(iii he w as 
elected speaker and made a vigorous and capable iiresidiiig 
orticer. In conseqnence of illness and business interests Mr. 
Plxdib gave uji the practice of the law in 1872, and until his 
election to this body in \s~~ he gave his time and energies to 
his jnivate interests, I he most of the time serving as ])resideiit 
of the lOmporia National Hank. 

On the 3l8t day of .lannaiy, 1S77. he was elected to succeed 
Senator James M. Ilaixeyas a memlier of this body, and his 
brilliant ami distinguished services in this great legislative 
Chamber are a jiart of the imperishable history of our great Ke 



/.//(' and L'Inxracli-r of freslnii A'. I'lnmh. I 27 

pulilir. To you wlio ,scr\<Ml witii liiiii and Icariu'd IVoiii iirrsoiial 
contact Ills woiidcifiil powci's it is not nri'fssary to snji'ji'csl liis 
poctiliaiitios or to rcraii his rcniiukahlc aciiicveinoids. Ilo 
entered this Chamber a coMiparutive straiifjer to all and with- 
out experience or niiich laniiliarit.\- witli national concerns, yet 
in a brief period he became the friend of ail. o\ ercaun' the em 
barrassmeuts resulting from inexperience, familiarized himself 
with the rules and methods of doiiii; business, and became one 
of the most fori'eful Senators upon the floor. During- the last 
eiglit or ten years of bis serviee as a Senator from Kansas his 
work was marvelous, and I do not think that any Senator who 
sit* upon this tioor will take exception to my statement when 
I suggest that HI my Judgment Pbeston B. Plumb did more 
good work than any man in the f'ongress of the United States. 

Possessing a magnificent jdiysical organization, with strong 
mental endowments, he seenu'd e.xempt from the infirmities 
common to our humanity and capable of constant, exhaustive, 
and endless work. Rest did not seem necessary with him 
and recreation and relief from the cares and responsibilities of 
Senatorial service were only suggested to l)e put aside as 
having no place or part in the public life and daily service of 
this representative and servant of the people. His ambition 
was to work, to accomplish results, and to leave to his lo\ed 
ones as a heritage a record of kindly deeds and of almost 
matchless achievements. To his State he was fondly devoted, 
to her people he was ever loyal, and to her interests, growth, 
and development he had consecrated his energies as a religious 
duty, and whatever in his jinlgment would ("ontribute to her 
glory and to the hai)piness and coutentment of her firesides, 
that would he champion and defend, whether it was orthodox 
in politics for him to do so or otherwise. 

I do not suggest that he was always right; such a strong, 
impetuous, and jiersonal nature as his is likely to evoke mis- 



12s ^ItMrcss of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas, on llic 

takes: but that In- was true to lii> coiivictiiins, loyal tohiscoii- 
stitiiciits, aiul i-ariR'st in his (h-sire to servi- the iicoph- that hail 
hoiioietl hiiu and the country of which he was so proud as an 
American citizen, can not lie (luestioned by any. 

I lirst became aei|uaiiit<Ml with .Mr. I'l.rMii in ilic winter of 
ISCO-'TO. 1 had located at Oswcfjo, in the .southeast corner 
of the State, the .siuiu},' before, and in the practice of our pro- 
fessiou we were thrown toj;ether in some imix'rtant Iiti;:'atii>M 
at the time sug<j;ested, and tVoni tlicn until the day of his 
death I knew him well, and we were friends. 

When 1 was lirst nominated for Coiifrress from the State at 
larjje the delegation from his county gave me its earnest and 
loyal support, and during my Congres-sional service in- aided 
me greatly with his suggestions, experience, and support. My 
friends were generally his friends and we found our ollicial re- 
lat ions nu)st eordial and ]>leasant. We, of the House, depended 
upon him almost entirely to look after our measures in this body. 
Senator Ingalls was luaih of the time engaged with his duties 
as presiding olHcer. and hence to Senator Plumu we carried 
our labors as well as our jiersoual endiarassmcnts and diflicul- 
ties. Ilow well he refpiited our confidence and res])onded to 
our demands upon him is shown liy the record thai in almost 
every instance and in full measure our interests were consulted, 
our demands responded to. ami our local measures looked after 
and cared for. 

The career of Preston B. Plumb wasaromaiu'c in real life. 
Without school, he became i-ducated: without training in any 
s])ecial line oi' business or public service, he becanu'One of the 
most etlective men in law, in linancc, in jiiditics, and in states 
manship; without earlv advantages, he became the peer of 
nu'n on whom schools, wealth, travel, and cultnrecl surround 
ings had poured their richest gitts: without susjiendiiig his 
busy activities that he might sit down and learn, he a<(|uired 



[jfe and Character of Preston /I. Pliinil). 12!) 

by obs('i'\';iti(iii anil altsorpt inn, as lie inislicil alunt;, a riind of 
iafoi'iuation wliirli made liiiii an aiitlioril y on all practical snli- 
jccts. He was a rapid and constant reader, anil would gather 
flic I'ontcnts of tlic daily ]ircss and store tlieru away in his 
vii^orous intellect in less time I liaii aiix man I ever knew, lie 
was a lover of hooks, as well as of art, and at his home at 
iMnporia is found oue of the finest private libraries west of the 
Mississippi River, all personally selected and arranged with 
caic, with reference to the sulyect or matter of which tliey 
treat. 

In ]\Iay last we were together in New York City, and we 
visited a bookstore, and he spent an hour or more in looking 
over their new publications, and left his order for over a hun- 
dred volumes. Knowing his busy life, L asked him when he 
found time to read books, and he answered that he read them 
when traveling and nights when not otherwise engaged, for 
recreation. And thus every moment of this great man's life 
was utilized, and all his- wakeful moments were busily cm- 
ployed. He was an early riser, no matter what the demands 
upon him the previous night, and the eai-ly hours of the da.y 
were given to his correspondence, which was wonderfully 
voluminous. After dictating letters to his stenographer for 
two hours or more he would go to breakfast, if he had time; 
but, if friends were in waiting and his errand and Department 
work were pressing, he would defer his breakfast until later in 
the day and give his time and energies to the deniands of a 
constituency that had no conception of the work it imposed 
upon him. 

In this way his hours for eating became very irregular, and 
1 have known many instances when late in the afternoon he 
took his first morsel of food tor the day. P.ut this did not 
seem to impair his capacity for work, and in his rapid, vigor- 
ous, and irresistible way he pushed along, defying the inex- 

S. :\ris. L'L'S 9 



130 Address of Mr. Pcrkiiis, of Kansas., oit llie 

i>ralili- laws nl' iiatiut'. until the cud caiiif in that sndilen, start- 
linji uianin-r on the L'Utli day of Dcci'mht-i- last. Many whu 
knew him well had aiiticipatiMl that when the linal snnmmu.s 
came it would eome without warnin;; or notiie, a.s a flash of 
lifrhtninjr in a eloudless sky, l)ui all had hoped that the jrrim 
messeuj^er, which {-onu's but om-c lo man, would dit'i r his 
summons until this strong, synipalhetic. roljust, (•ai)ai)le. and 
uselul mau eoidd give to his ]ieople and to his country many 
more years of his splendid service. 

Mr. I'rcsidcnl, 1 lia\c known many Imsincss anil |iulilic men, 
but in my entire circle of acipiaintances 1 have never known 
one who could look after as many interests, assume so many 
responsibilities, and give his attention to as many cares at tlie 
same time, without neglecting any, as l'i;i;sT(iN 15. PuMU. 

Like an oak in the forest, he has fallen: a strong man has 
been called heiu'c: but there is naught left for us to moiu-n, but 
his unfortunate departure. His life had been a useful and a 
iiolilc I mi-. Ili.^ fame, fairly earned, is secure and his name will 
be honored by those who follow us. 

lie died with his mental facidties unimpaired, his genial 
nature unchilled, and his love of friends and country as .stal- 
wart as in the hajipy days of Imyliood. 

The love that his jjcople bore him was illustrated by the 
scenes that were witnessed by thos(> who acccmipanied his 
remains to their final resting i)lace. When the confines of the 
State were reached, that he had loved so fondly and seived so 
faithfully, the manly .sons and appreciative daughters gath- 
oi-ed in crowds at every station to pay with uncovered heads 
and .sympathetic hearts their silent triliute of resjiect to tin- 
dead statesman and friend. All liir people moiiincd. for he 
was emphatically the people's friend, lie was not only kindly 
dispo.sed toward them, but he was one of them, and he knew 
their burdens, their .sorrow.s, and their conflicts. He could 



Life and CJiaractrr of Prcs/on /I. I'litiiil>. 1-51 

sympiiiliizc with :iii intelligent syniiMitli.v, ;is liis early yeais 
had been years of saeriliee and privation, wliile all his life had 
been filled with labors and ies]»onsil)ilities. 

There was no sham oi' nioek pretense in his manifestations 
of sympathy and htve for the people, lie believed in the peo- 
ple and had eontidence in their patriotism and intelligenee. 
He said they might be estranged and in eonse.(iiieuee of uu- 
fortunate eonditions led into error for a little time, but that 
eventually the sober second Judgment of tlit^ people was almost, 
certain to be honest, patriotic, and right. At his death the 
country lost a wise and untiring h^gislator and statesman, but 
in Kansas we lost a, benefactor and friend. To us his loss is 
irreparable and the mourning of our people is grievous and 
universal. Not in the towns and villages alone, not in the 
centers of trade and commerce only, but upon the farm, in the 
cabins, and far out upon the prairie with the pioiu-er, the grief 
was intense, and all sutt'ered as from a personal sorrow. 

Mr. President, for his future I (h) not fear. He was not a sec- 
tarian in religion, though he believed in the Christian faith. 
He was not attached to any creed, but believed that the truest, 
broadest, and most-to-be-commeuded faith was that which 
teaches us to give cmr best endeavors toward aiding, elevating, 
and benefiting our fellow men. His was the religion of human- 
ity, and in all his private and public life be was consistent 
with his convictions. 

I have spoken of the business and public life of our late dis- 
tinguished Senator, but I do not forget that there was an inner 
and nearer circle, into the sacredness of whose sorrow we can 
only glance. 

On the 25th day of March, 1S67, at Ashtabula, Ohio, Pres- 
ton B. PLirMB was married to Miss Carrie South wick, of that 
place, who survives him and who in broken health presides at 



132 AMifss of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas. 

tilt' sti'ickeii liuiiic. anil who in weeds of inonrniiij^ and dcsola 
tion has tin- ri'siu'et and syinjiatliN ul' all. 

No one liivcd his hdinc more than .Mi-. 1M,1"MI5. and while his 
piililii- iliities were such that he emild he at Imnie hut little, 
and whih- the health of Mis. IMiuiih was siieh that she eould 
share hut little in his ]iublie life, yet they were fondly and 
<levotedly attached to each other, and in the later ycarsof their 
doniestie life it was a jiathetic scene to see this }rreat, strong, 
nrtive. Imsy man ministering; to and looking atler the necessi- 
ties and comfort of this invalid wife. 

Five children as well as this stricken wife survive him. and 
his home was his delight, and the joys ami Iiai)i)iiiess of the 
children and the household were his comfort and consolation. 

No hetrer father, no kinder, teinlerer liushaii<l. iiu more loyal 
friend, no mor(> generous and synipathizing man attracted love 
auil affection, and we can rest in the helief that after a life so 
well spent, with its every duty and obligation faithfully ob- 
served, the soul of the great Senator is at rest and peace in 
the presence of the eternal Ood. 

Mr. I'resident. I ofler the resolution which 1 send to the desk. 

The VlCE-ri{i;sii)ENT. The resolution will be read. 

The Secretary read as follows: 

'■'Resolved, That, as an additional mark of resjiect to the 
memory of the deceased, the Senate do now adjourn." 

The Vick-Pkesidknt. The (piestion is on agreeing to t In- 
resolution offered by the Senator from Kan.sas. 

The resolution was agreed to; and (at 4 o'clock and 40 min- 
utes ]). III.) the Senate adjourned. 



^R0CI'E1)IN(;S IN Till- HOUSH OV RI-J'Rl'SRNTATIVliS. 



ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH. 

l.N THK IIot'SK, Morrh 1!>, /W;?. 

Tlie Speaker. Tlie lioiir liiis now arrived tor the special 
order. \\hie]i the Clerk will report. 

The ( 'lerk read as follows: 

'■ 7»c,s'(>/(vy/. That Saturday, ^lareh 11>, ISitU, heoiimiiig iin- 
inediately alter the reading of the Journal, be set a])art tor 
tributes to the memory of Hon. PRESTON B. I'LUMU, late a 
Senator from Kansas." 

Mr. FuiN'STON. 1 ask for tlie reading of the Senate resolutions. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

" Rcsiilred, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
of the death of PRESTON B. Plumb, late a Senator from the 
State of Kansas. 

^•Besolrcd, That, as a Jiiark of respect to the memory of the 
deceased, the business of the Senate be now suspended to 
enable his associate.s to ]>ay ])roper tribute of regard to liis 
liiah character and distinguislied jmblic serviees. 

"i?('.v()/('f(?. That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
these I'esolutions to the House of Eejiresentatives. 

" RcKolred, That, as a further mark of respect to the deceased, 
the Senate do now adjourn." 

Mr. FUNSTON. ^Ir. Si)eaker, I ask the Clerk to read tli(> 
resolution which I send to the desk. 

The Clerk read as follows: 

••/(*(. v<(/(V(/, That the House of Rein-esentatives has heard 
with ])rofound sorrow of the deatii of Pkkston B. Pex'MH, 
late a Senator from the State of Kansas. 



13 J .ItMnss <>/ Mr. /'/ins/oii, of A'aiisas, on /lir 

•• lienolral. Tli;it tlic Imsiiicss nf tliis House be suspcmU'd, 
tlial aijpnipriatc honors may be paid to the inciuory of the 
(Icci'aM'd. 

■■ Rcftilvcd, That the Ch-ik of the ITouse of IJeinesentatives 
b<- (lireeted to tiaiisniit to the family of the deceased a eopy of 
this ri'solutioii. 

^'' Rcsolr<(l, Tliat, as an M(blitional mark of respect ti> the 
memory of the deceased, at the conclusion of these ceremonies 
the House do adjourn.'' 



ADDRESS OF Mr. FUNSTON, OF KANSAS. 

Mr. FUNSTON. Mr. .Speaker, it is tittinj;- that the House of 
Ju-preseutatives should pause in the midst of its daily duties 
and witli beeondu;; remarks pay a tribute of respect to the 
memory of one of the mo.st illustrious of the other branch of 
this body. 

I'UKSTON 15. Plumb, a Senator of the I'nited States from 
the State of Jvausas. died at his resilience in this city f)n the 
niorninf,' of the 1201 li of I)erenil>ir. IS'.H. His illness was of 
but a few hour.s" duiation. when it was hurriedly announced 
in all parts of the city and dispatched to all parts of tlie coun- 
try that he was dead. In no instance has it been more com 
]detely exemplified that in life we are in the midst of death, 
nor have ever l)een more .seriously impres.sed on our minds the 
uncertainty of life and the certainty of death. 

Senator Plu-MB was to all ap])earance a .strong man piiys- 
ically. Nature had blessed him with a body which .seemed 
capable of almost any endurance. His steii was (piick and 
elastic, anil every motion indicated a ])hysical power and activ 
ity far l)eyond the gifts of men. The tone of his voice, the 
rai)idity of his s])eecii, and every gesture indicated, as it were, 
a linman engine, uhicli could neither tire nor wear out. It was 
•so the people of his Stall', aiid in fact all who met him, regarded 



Life and Character of Preston />. I'luml). 1;!') 

Iiim. Tiicy could not do olhciwisc, lor \\iiatc\cr lie iiiinlit he 
doing or wheiever he was going lie .seemed to l.c hunting lor 
more work to add to the great burden which he was already 
hearing. That the burden became too heavy for any mortal 
man to bear there can be no (juestion. lie sank beneath it. 
The great center which constitutes the propelling power of life 
was crushed, and this tine specimen of health and sticnj;th 
lay dying. 

Never did a i)eoi»lc feci more keenly the loss of one of their 
own than did the people of Kansas feel the loss of Senator 
Plumb. They loved him with all the affections ol' their hearts. 
He was to them a brother, a tatlier, a benefactiu-. They had 
tound in him a wise counselor, a true friend, and a heart over- 
tlowiug with generosity. 

The poorest and the weakest could always catch his atten- 
tion and pour into his ear a recital of their sorrows and mis- 
fortunes with a certainty of relief, were it possible for him to 
give it, though in thousands of cases it re(|uired the sacrifice 
of his own jiersonal means. 

In him the businessman found a model. When a farmer he 
was familiar with all its duties, ready anil willing if necessary 
to take hold of the most disagreeable and arduous duties, 
allowing no one to do more than he, and, as his brother, who 
was at one time his partner u]K)n the farm, remarked to me. 
lie was always found doing that which was the hardest to do. 
Behind the countei- of his bank he was exact, but fair, desi)is- 
ing to take advantage of any man's misfortune; loan.ng in 
many instances to men whose only security was their good 
names, and, as I have been told, seldom losing on such loans. 
He was a success as an editor, as a lawyer, and as a miner. 
Railroads were built under the inspiring touch of his genius. 
And, in fiict, there was luit little within his leacli to be done 
of a business character that he did not in some way assist, 



1:16 .Iddrcss o/'Mi. riiiis/oii, p/ Kansas^ on tlic 

(liierily or iiidin-ttlv. His iniiiil was imi of tin- <iiic idea kin 
it was not as a oiifstriiifxt'il iiisirunu'iit, but it was likr a 
^'laml pianoforte with t-vciy rlionl in liarniony with tho bal- 
aiicj', and at its best only when respoiuliufi' to tlic most delicate 
imiili. 

Of his suecess as a legishitor but littU- need be said here. 
In the Chambei of the Senate he has niaih' for himself a name 
that needs no eulogy to i>eri)etuate. 

The statutes bear witness to tiic many laws jilarcd there 
throuyih liis ettbrts in the interest of the jmblie or worthy in 
dividuals. 

Many are tlie elaims he has secured lor tliose wlui were too 
poor to proseeute them in the courts. Man\ an- tiie nld sol- 
diers who have been made hajjpy thron;;h his instrumental'ty. 

.Vs a debater he made but little pretension to oratory, 
though he was always elo(|nent with facts and sound reasoninfr. 
dealt in such a way that they eaiiie with the corners on and 
played havoc witli his o]ip(iiients. Open the Record at almost 
any date during;- his ion;;- ( 'onj;ressional service in the Senate 
and you will there iind an expression of his sentiments c(uuhed 
in strong ind vigorous English. lie called a spade a spade, 
and there was no niislakinu what he mi-aiit. After all. that is 
oratory of the higliest order, tor it persuades and convinces 
and charms us with results. 

His addres.ses m political campaigns were modei> in political 
economy. Noin' understood better than he the great principles 
upon which the government of a free i)eoide must rest, and he 
was (piick to detect an erroneous idea of what those jirinciples 
were and to show the damaging results of such ideas. 

None were better able t<i ilraw I lie line between the states- 
man and the demagogue, whether in his own party or some 
other. 

lie believed that everv man. in a measure at Ica.st, is the 



Life and Characlcr of I'rcsloii />. PIiduI). V-M 

architect of liis dwn toitimc, mikI thcrctoic llial lie should 
attempt to liew it out. Never iiaxiiiy tasled the bread ofidh' 
71CSS hiuiself, he had no patience with anyone w Iio had not tlie 
courage and dispositiou to move on. Work, work I was liis 
motto. He seemed to liave absoibcd tlie spiritottlie motto of 
his State: Ad astra 2>i'i' (ii^pcrd. 

To liim thiMe was noway ujibut to work up. Horn on a farm, 
witliout fortune, i-eared undei- the tutehige of parents who 
believed that manual lal)or is lumorable and that an honest 
man is the noblest work of God, he started at the toot of the 
hill, never shirking a responsibility, nor breaking an engage- 
ment, nor forsaking a friend; gathering strength and courage 
and frieuds as lie advanced, he reached the summit, and in a 
halo of glory, amid the i)]auditsof admirers and loving friends, 
he passed to the stars. 

What a glorious model for the youths of America! Where 
is the boy, howevei- poor he may be, who would not receive 
inspiration from this character? 

Where is the father \yho would sit down under the statue of 
Senator Plttmb and repine because his sons are poor? 

Where is the man who would in the light of his life attempt 
to array class against class in this country ? 

For here was a man of all classes and yet of none. 1 le passed 
through all and belonged to mme. He knew but little and 
eared but little for tlie boundary lines of class. He broke 
through all without knowing himself, and when standing by 
the side of the President of the United States he felt as |)cr- 
fectly at ease as if in the ])reseiice of the iworest man in Kan- 
sas, and when in the presence of the jjoorest man in Kansas 
he was as respectful and kindly as if in the iiresencc of ihe 
President of the United States. 

Ml-. Speaker, I will not tresjjass upon tiie time of this House 
to attempt a Itiography of Senator Plumu. I will leave that 



138 Ac/drcss of Mr. Fiiitston, of Kansas, on the 

biMiicli of ilir siilp|('c't ti> my collcajiues. who art- sn imicli bet- 
tt'i- i|iialiliccl than I tu ileal witli it. 

1 will (nily -say that 1 have kiinwii him intimately foraquar 
tt'i- (if a ccntuiy, and that ho was in Kansas many years hcfore 
1 knew him. lie <-am<' there when al>()\', and cast his loitnni's 
on her bleak ]naiiies with searcely enough to shelter him Irom 
the blasts of winter. 

lie not only g^icw np with the State, bnt he made the State 
{jrow. He infnsed his enerjry into all her public enterprises. 
He not only hel])ed himself, Imt he helped others. He bnilt 
colleges, anci chmches. and railroads, ami ojieiied faiuis and 
made laws and fought battles for Kansas and the Union. 

His whole life has been inseparably woven into the life of his 
State, and no man can think of her green pastures, her splen- 
did schools, her hai)i)y an<l ])rosperous i)eople without thinking 

of I'UMH. 

We, in the presence of thousands ot' uncovered heads and 
under the aus])ices of the Grand Army of the Kepnblic, laid 
him to rest among the ])eo])le he loved so well. 

We can not and ought not to say he is dead, excci)t in body. 
There is no death for such men. The frail tenements which 
they iidiabit may retui-n to earth, bnt their spirits, like the 
bnttertly. are oid.\- disenthralled and seek the s])ace of eter- 
nity, as the buttertly does the morning air. Or, in the beau 
tiful idea of the minister at the dead Senator's home, "The 
<-urlains are only drawn aside." 

Our State will miss him. 'I'lu' nation will miss him. I'.ut 
his spirit, like the spirits of Socrates and Cicero, will ever be 
)ircsent, in intlnence at least, with an intelligent and justice- 
loving peoide 



Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. V-V.) 

ADDRESS OF Mr. BRODERICK, OF KANSAS. 
Mr. Bboderick. Mr. Speaker — 

Death mak<'s im couciuest of this conqueror; 
Fornow lie lives in fame, thon!;li not in life. 

This can be truly said of I'ueston B. I'LL' jib. A strong- 
inau has fallen. We pause here to reeall his virtues aud i)ay 
tribute to his memory. The life was an earnest, active one, 
fnll of patiiotisni and replete with good works. 

1 am not fully informed of his opportunities and environ- 
ments in early life. I can only follow him from the time he left 
his Ohio home for the new West, through an honorable and 
eventful career. 

In 18.j(i man_\- strong young men from all over the country 
emigrated to the Territory of Kansas. Prior to this date the 
country from the Missouri Eiver to the Rocky Mouutains was 
looked upon as a desert with only a. possibility of reclamation. 
The savages aud the buffah) had undisputed dominion. Two 
or three military posts, garrisoned by a few* soldiers; two oi- 
three Indian missions, in charge of a few missionaries, and 
here aiul there an advennirer were all there were on tins great 
Western plain to i)roclaim the probable advance and conijuest 
of our civilization. These few missionaries and frontiersmen, 
"Whether there of theii- own volition or by direction of the Di- 
vine Intelligence, witnessed events and changes more startling 
aud momentous than had occurred in this (uiuntry during the 
l)reseut century. 

In .lune, I.S.3."), the Congress had given to Kansas and Ne- 
braska a Territorial form of goverumeut, and that vast region, 
now so populous aud prosperous, was o|)ened to settlement. 
Emigration followed, and settlements si)rang up all along the 



1 40 .ItMrtss of Mr. Byodiiick, of Kansas^ on the 

castcni liiiidcr. Uiii i\civ iifw coiitiliy must pass tliiuu;^li its 
crisis. Tlif allabsorbiuy (lucstiou of the time was whether 
shivery should bf planted aud lostered in the Territtu-ies, aud 
upon this ([uestiuii \W iji-njik' w4Te divided. The diflerences 
at onee became sharjilx delined and larj;ely sectional. A;;ita 
tion was kept alive: liin^atenin;; denmnstrations were made; 
bitterness was enj;;enderetl. which fast ripened into open ami 
deadly hostility. Fierce strife ensued and soon the Territory 
was in the throes of a mighty contest, which had assumed 
from the bejiiniiin;,' a national idiaraeter, and the whole nation 
turned from the ordinars iliauuels of tliou^ilit td view anil 
study the situation. 

A year later the turhuh'iii elements yii-ldnl in |icaceful meth- 
ods, interest in the stru<;j;le diminished, and the tew actual 
settlers were greatly augmenteil in number. 

Mr. Plumh was born aud spent his boylmod days in Dela- 
ware County, in the State of Ohio. In October, 1856. after 
(inly a lew days" rellectioii. he deieiiiiined to j^o to Kansas, aud 
at once Joined the great westward-moving throng that was 
hastening forward to link their fortunes with tho.se who had 
gone before. They started to liud an abiding place and take 
up homes on the wide prairies of thai region aud to dedicate 
it to (rod and liberty. 

Not long after becoming a resident of the Territory Mr. 
rn'Mli secured employment in a printing oUice at Lawrem-e, 
ami for a tinu' worked at the case. Soon thereafter he began 
thestudy of law, and in 1S,"»!I was a member of the Leavenworth 
const it utiomil con \ cut ion. 

!-'rom the time he ciuumenced reading law he eneigelieally 
iniisecuted his studies, and in IStil was adndtted to the bar. 
I'.arly in ISfiJ he was elected a member ol' the Stale legisla- 
ture and snbsei|uently was ajipoinlcil reporter ol' the supreme 
<'ourt. 



/,//('■ a)td Characlcr of J'rcstoii /I. I'lit»ib. Ill 

111 August 111' IIkiI yrwx lie ciilfri'd tlic \<iliintccr iiiililary 
Sfi'vicc ;is scciinil liciilciiaiit in the l''.li'\ cnl li Kansas Kegiiiiclit, 
and was a(l\aiicr(l. stcii hy sicp. miiil ilic close of tlu' war, 
when lie was coininissioncil i-oloiifl, and, in a lew days there- 
after, with his icuiiiient. was innstered oiif of (lie service. 
Thr iiii|ih'iiieiits of war lieiiiu laid aside lie returned to his 
home at lMii|)oria and resumed the ])raetiee of his ]irot'essioii, 
eoiitinuuiy to take a dee|) interest in exery ino\-eineiit iinuij;u- 
rated to (levelo|i and Iniiid up the <_'ommon\vealth. I'nwaver 
I ni; tail h in the resoiirees and ixissibilities <il' the State, untii'inj;' 
efforts tor what he lielieved to he for her advaneemeiit, ready 
pereeptiou, whieii eiihbled hiin to deeide what should be done, 
soon uave him leadership and determined his future. 

In the tall of 1S6(> he was eleete(l a inembei of the Kansas 
house of representatives, and when that liody assembled was 
ehoseu as its iiresiding' oftiecr. As sjieaker he won the eon 
tideneeand uooil will of the assembly and presided oxer it with 
distin.unished aliiliry. He was returned as a member of the 
house the followiiii; year. In 1877 the people further <'\ ideneed 
their appreciation of his services and worth by an election to 
the Fnited States Senate. Tie was twice rei'leeted and death 
found him at his jiost of duty December lid, 1S!M. 

This brief bion'iaiihy tells its own story, Smdi a record can 
not be found in any other country. It is wholly du(^ to the iii- 
tluence <if .Vmerican ideas and American institutions. With a 
limited scholastic e(lucation. a poor boy advances from one 
position of trust to another, until he is seateil as a member 
of this highest lejiislati\e body iu the world, and all this is 
aecomiilished at the age of 40. The record is not chised here. 
Tlic xoiuig Senator was a close observer and a student, 
althouuh his methods of study were said by his nearest 
friends to have been peculiar. His open, genial manner, his 
constant industry and force of character, soon gained for him 



142 Address of Mr. Jlrodcrick, of A'ansas, on the 

reiofiiiitioii in the Senate and endeared him more firmly to the 
]ieo)>le of his State. After a few sessions he was found par- 
tiiipatiuji' in the discussion of great ((uestions, and always 
ar(|iiiited liimself with credit. 

I)urin{f the last years he was one of the best intormed men 
on iinMic iiuestimis in the country. Many times he amazed 
tiic Senate l)y his readiness and foice in debate upon qnestinns 
suddenly sprunji in that body. Senator Llali-. lon-i associated 
witii liini. in iiis eulogy in ihi' .Senate, saiil: 

"On this tioor lie never fham|iioned a measure without first 
studying it from all sides, and no man here could maintain his 
cause better than Mr. ruMH." 

His work in tlie Seuate for bis State and the nation can not 
receive more tliaTi mere mention at this honi'. The (lart he 
bore in the deliberations is part of the history of that body 
and retlects great honor upon his memory. His fame was not 
limited to his State, but extended to the remotest (lartsof the 
I'nion. Everywhere his mime was regarded as a tower of 
strength, and his advocacy of a measure was evidence that it 
would receive respectful consideration. 

In daily life he was unassnminu and earnest, but always 
considerate of the opinions and .sensibilities of others. Strong 
j)ersonal attachments drew to and about him hosts of ardent 
ailmirers. He was devoted to his family, kind and obliging 
til his friends, and generous to all. Much of liis on ii |ii(is])erity 
was employed in kindly nduistrations and for the substantial 
pros])erity of others. 

The willingness to assist those wlio lookcil to liini was one of 
his strong characteristics, and lir lj;nl innmiiii able rails Ibi- a 
Word (ir line of (roniiin iKJat inn. There are few men who ever 
hel|>ed carry the lio])es and aMd)ilions of more ]ieo])le. Kaidc 
oi- station was not considered. Ue was of the peojile and with 
the people. One of the last acts of his life wa.s to assist in se- 



Il 



Life and Character of Prexton li. Pliiuib. I CI 

cnrin,y tlic ;ii)|ii)iiitiiu'iit, of a | r (upliaii Iki.v as mcssciinci- in 

oiieoftlK- Dcpaitiiieiitsoftlic (lovcniiiK'iit. Flo liad woiidfifi 
energy, strong will ji.iwcr. and a deterininafidii to do tlii 
that he Ix'licved sh.MiM W done. All was doM<' without osten- 
tation, show, or inctcnsc. 

Those are in brief some of the traits of eharucter that brought 
him into puhlie notice and secured to him the conlidtuce and 
respect of iiis fellow men. 

The years of experience in public life had fitted him fbr still 
greater usefulness to his country. He appeared in the very 
zenith of his intellectual i)owers, and his ft-iends had abun- 
dant reason to believe that he yet had a long and useful career 
betV)re him. There was no Kansan whom the people of the 
State delighted more to honor. They were proud of the record 
he had made, a n-cord that adorns the brightest pages of our 
history. Xo wonder, when, on that Sabbath in Decendjer, the 
sorrowful news was Hashed over the wires that Senator I'lumb 
was dead, there was deep and sincere m(.urning. Xo wonder, 
when the funeral car moved out. and all along the line, from 
the cajntal city to his Kansas home, the people stood with nn- 
covcred heads. No wonder the multitudes in his beloved State 
gathered to look for the last time upon the face of the dead 
statesman. 

Becoming a resident of the Territory when tiiere were a ia^ 
isolated settlements, he had seen that earnest, struggling com- 
munity grow into a great, prosperous Commonwealth, contain- 
ing nearly a- million and a half souls. During these years he 
had witnessed the establishing and l)uilding up of institutions 
that would do credit to a much older State. He had the con- 
sciousness of having contributed in no small way to this won- 
derful transformation. He was proud of his State, had un- 
bounded faith in her future, and expressed the hope to see the 
unfolding aiid development of all her resoiu-ces. 



114 .hM/rss of Mr. Brodcnck, of Kansas, on the 

I low straii;;*' it seems. A tew slicnt weeks afjo this <;reat 
mail was one of the reeognized leaders in the I'liited States 
Senate, '• A living force anion^;- livinj; men, heli)iii^ to mold 
l)ul)lic opinion and shape national jtoliey." 1 have a vivid 
lecidleetiomifni.v last conversation with him. It wasonly two 
oi' three days before his death. Wliile he spoke of the neces- 
sity of takinu' a few days' rest, he seemed hojieful anil of jrood 
cheer. I had no thonj;ht that he was standiiij; on the river's 
bank, and within liailinj; distance of tlie Boatman; tint the 
hours of his appointed time were nnnd)ered. 

The loss of this life is felt here at the national cajiital: it is 
felt in eveiy hamlet in his State: hnt the great bereavement 
lias fallen most lieavil> ii|iiin t lie home, upon the faithful, loving 
wife and the trustful children. Tlionsands of sorrowing hearts 
turn with sineerest .sympathy toward that stricken household. 

In the weakness of humanity, but with becoming reverenci-, 
«'e are prone to incjuire why the carth!\ career of such a life 
closed so soon: why the light was so early extinguished. 

O Death, what art them f a l,aw.:iviT that iievrr alti'ieth. 

Fixing t lie t'"'>isuiuinatiiiK seal wlieicby the<Ic«'<l«<il'lil't' tu'ODiiic f.-itablisheu ; 

<) |)i-ath, what art thou ? a sti;rii aii<l .silent usher, 

l.iadiuj^ t(i the ,jiiil"j;iiieut for Elcniit.v, after the trial scene iif'rinie; 

O Death, wliat art thou? an husliaudinan that reapeth always. 

Out of season, as in season, with the sickle in his hand. 

I!ul on such all occasion as this we can not pliilosophize. 
The mystery of ileath can not Ije solved. When the mes.senger 
»'omcs with the dread summons the hand can not be sta.ved. 

.\.ll that was mortal of PltKsidX 1'., I'LUMlf has jjassed away 
forever, but tlie leconl of work well done is imperishable. In 
sorrow we must submit to tlie decice of Heaven: the lio)ie is 
in immortality. The life that was so active and useful here 
has not gone out, but has been transferred to the home beyond 
the stars. 



Life and Character of Preslon li. PI u tub. 115 



Address of Mr. Joseph D. Taylor, of Ohio. 

Mr. Joseph I). Taylok. Mr. Speaker, fifteeu years ago. on 
the 4tli day of the present month, Pues-ston B. I'lumu stood 
up in tlie Hall of the United States Senate and took the oath 
ofolMi'e. Coiuinj; from a State upon whose soil had been fought 
the tirst great battle between freedom and slavery, his opinions 
upon most of the questions which were then agitating the 
country were well understootl, but beyond this very little was 
known here in Washington of the new Senator. Tall in stat- 
ure, strong in i)hysique, commanding in appearance, courteous 
in manner, outspoken in oi)ini()n, <puck in thought, deliberate 
in Judgment, he was not long in gaining the confidence of Ijoth 
sides of the Chamber. It was soon seen that he had a way of 
his own. and, if this way crossed the i)ath of Senatorial dignity 
or trampled under foot the time-honored customs of the Sen- 
ate, it made no ditt'erence to him; he went on undisturbed, re- 
garding results more than metliods. 

His suri)rising fanuliarity with (piestions which came befori' 
the Senate so(jn attracted attention, and the older members of 
the Senate often gave marked attention to what he said. In 
all that he did he was eminently ])ractical. lie never wasted 
time or words in reaching the turning point of a discussion. 
His strong individuality cropped out at every point, and his 
heaviest blows were always aimed at the weakest point of the 
opjiosition. Having been accustomed from boyhood to depend 
u])on himself, he mapped out his own pathway, solved his own 
proldems, fought his own battles, and won Ids own victories. 

Senator Plumb was a natural leader, and yet he had the 
sagacity to lead without seeming to do so. In consultations he 
was a patient listener, always willing to consider every side of 

S. Mis. 2i;8 1(1 



i-IG Address of Joscpli D. Taylor^ of Ohio^ on tJic 

af|Ut'Stion; Imt when he caiiic to a concliisioii and cxiufsscd 
ail ()])iiiion lit- supimrled if witli siiuli strong, terse argiuiii'iits 
that it was ai>t t<t be tlicjudjiiiient ol'all. 

His s|)eeclies were always arguiiieiitativi- and wliat lie said 
was always aimed right at the iioiiil. Blunt in rejdy. iiuick in 
repartee, patient in explanation, vigonms in denuneiation, log- 
ical and furcihle in his reasoning, he always niaintailied his 
giiiiind in puiilic diseussions to the satisl'aetioii of his friends 
and often to the discoiiitiirt of his enemies. 

The amount of work be did was a marvel; the way in which 
he did it was a greater marvel. His indomitable will, hi.s 
active brain, his sleei)less vigilance, his natural aml)ition to 
do every thing well, knew no limit and was circumvented by 
no obstacle. Although born in 1837 and although lie s]»eiit 
his early life on the frontier, amid the hardships and sacrifices 
ot' i>ioneer life, and went out in resjionse to his country's call 
when the storm clouds of war hung thickly over the southern 
horizon, he seemed as young and \igoioiis as most men do at 
40 years of age. 

In view of the fact that Senator I'l.rMB was born in Ohio, I 
ha\e been asked to say something on this occasion, and 
allliHiigh I was spoken to only a lew days since I am glad to 
have an opportunity of expressing my admiration for a man 
who has honored alike his native and adojif cd States. He was 
born in Delaware t'ounty, Ohio, only a short di.stanee north 
of the capital of flie State, in a county whieii is Icimwii l hrongh- 
out the country as the location of the Ohio Wesleyan I'ni ver- 
sify, one of the lai-gest universities in the country. He learned 
his trade as iirinfer at Gambier, Ohio, and established his lirst 
business entcr])rise at Xenia, Ohio, as editor, part owner, and 
manager of a newsi)ai)er. 

This was his lirst business enterprise and the field of his 
lirst ambition; but the thrilling news from the jdaius of Kan- 



Life and Characlcr of Preston B. PIudiIk \\1 

sas tiiiiclii'd li is heart iuid stii'red liis brain, and lie was soon 
on his way to that tlien far-otl' Territory. Thce\-eiits of those 
historic years seem unreal now, w hen tliose dreary i)lains liave 

been transfoir 1 into a hind of ]ironiise. when I he 'I'eiritory 

is now a yreat and prosjx'roiis State; lint there was a time 
w lieu life or death meant little and w hen freedom or shivery 
meant everythiiii;- in Kansas, and this was the time when 
Preston B. Plimh, as a, boy, .stepped upon the threshold of 
the struggle and took part in all the eontliets whnh were 
waged from that hour until the freedom of the State from 
slavery was secured and seeured forever. 

We are ]iroud of our young men in Ohio, and while we ajtpre- 
ciate how much Ohio lo.st by the transfer of Senator Pltijib 
to Kansas we are no less proud of his great career beeause it 
was achieved in a sister State, and we Join haud.s and heart.s 
with Kansas in doing honor to an OlIo boy who has not only 
honored two great States, but has honored a great country 
and left ns all a legacy of which we can be justly proud. Tw 
his widow and children, who sit in sorrow lieneath this great 
shadow, we send our .sympathies and our tears and ask for 
Ohio the privilege of sharing in the sorrows as well as the 
Inniors that crowd upon us in an hour like this. 

On the first day of the present .session of this Congress I 
came with Senator Plumb to this city. He was m one sleeping 
car, I was in another, on the same train. He invited me to go 
m his car and I did so, and later on he canieinto mine and we 
talked a great while and on many subjects. lie handed me a 
card on which he wrote the name of an individual whom he 
recommended as a .suitable person to be consulted in a matter 
of business in which .some of my friends are interested. Only 
once did he refer to his health, which he said was not very 
good, and he attributed it in iiart to too much hard work and 
in part to sickness in his family, which he said had cau.sed him 
a great deal of anxiety. 



148 .ldt/rtS6 of Jostpli D. Taylor, of 0/iio, on the 

\\"i' talki-il politics as wull as biisiiioss miuI disciisseil tlie 
liiospt-rts and prnlmblf candidates ol" the coniiiijj eaiupaijru. 
Ill all that was saiil. with this siiiale exception, theie was only 
the sj)arkle and cliccr of heallh and happiness. His lil'e si-cnied 
radiant with liopc and snnslnni- and liis heart was I'nll of kind 
ness for all. NVe sei>arated al tlie dejiot and did not meet 
aj;ain. When tiie news of Ids death came it seemed as if some 
friend had fallen by my side. Itsci'med imi)ossil)lc I I took out 
<if my ](ocket the diary in which was ilie card he had handed 
mc. Tliere was hi> hand writ inj;. and around tliat card gath- 
ered tlie words he imil spoken, and between tlie lines tliere 
seemed to be written. •• Hi' ye therefore ready also; (or the 
Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not." 

There was a link of friendship between Senator I'UMI! and 
myself which was always mentioned when we met: that was 
bis friendship for Col. T. II. Anderson, who is now the minister 
l)leiiii)otentiary to Bolivia. South America, who studied law in 
my ollice and was for many years my hi\\ iiartuei-. 1 liaveofien 
beard Col. Andersou express hi.s admiration for Senator Plu MU, 
and I ha\e a letter in m.v possession now in which Senator 
Plimh refers \ erv kindly to Cid. Anderson. 

Tliere are many lliin^^s that can be said of a man's jirixate 
eharacter, his r<-Iatious to fandly and home, to wife and <liil- 
(Iren. friends and neighbors, more beautiful than those which 
relate to public life or honored careers: but Ihey will bcsjioken 
by those who were better ac(|iiainteil with Ihe deceased than 
1 was and who can speak of iliese sacred relations nioii' appro- 
jiriately than I can. 

lint I know enouj;h of Senator I'li'MU's private life to honor 
him for his love of liome and family, lor his interest in his 
fiieiids ;iiid neighbors, for I lie love he hart tor his native State, 
to which he always turned with a kindly heart: for the inter 
est he took in the town of l^m[)oria, that beautiful and attra<'- 



/,//(' and Character of /'nsfon />. I'lnnih. 149 

tlve city of till' \\'csr, (if which he was (incur llic roiiiKh'is. 
When I w;ill<cil nloni;' Ilic sticcts of I'jniiorin. liiicil \\ithsli:idc 
trees 071 every side, and lndkcd at tlic hidcl^s of l)iiihlin,i;s, so 
well and so jxTinanently linilt. I conld not realize tlial I'"mi|io- 
lia had urowii to what it is within I lie litetiMic of any man ; and 
yet it has urown since Senator Pi>T'Mr. planted tlie llist foun- 
dation stone, and Kansas in the nicantinie has ^rown to lie a. 
great State, and is destined in thi- \ears in cuinc to he one of 
the .ureatest States in this Union. 

When I said that Senator I'i.ttmh was a h'adei I did not 
mean that he had not been influenced by others. When he 
went to Xenia. Ohio, to become a youny editor he met there 
that grand old Methodist preaeher. (iianville Moody, who was 
full of patriotism and abolitionism and always ready to lueach 
or tight for the frceilom of the slaxc or the overthrow of intem 
l)erance. I have understood that Senator 1'litmb was a- great 
admirer of (iranville bloody, and 1 do not know who could help 
admiring that noble man who has e\-er heard him speak, or 
l)reacli, or talk, as 1 ha\'e often done, and I do not tloubt that 
Senator 1'lt':mb carried into Kansas the same tire and enthu- 
siasm which (iranville Moody enkindled wherever he went. 
Xo man is entirely original. The thoughts which crash through 
the brain, the woi'ds which burn and blister on tln^ lip, the 
gentle sunshine which tills the heart, come rolling down througii 
the cenTuries and are as immortal as the ndud itself. 

^Ve think the tliougbts of others: we speak the wdmIs of 
others: we ilo tlie acts of others: we go through life stejiping 
in the footprints of those whom we adnn'ie and honor, whetiiei- 
we know it or not; bnt there is a difference aftei- all between 
men in their individuality. Two men may be equally great in 
certain characteristics which the world admires and yet om- 
may be a hero and the other a coward: one may insist on as- 
serting his manhood and conscience at all times ami nndei- all 



15U Address of Joseph D. Taylor, of Ohio, on the 

firciiiiistnm-fs. wliilc tin- ntlu-r cowim-.s in (lie pioseiiii' ol'imlilio 
sciitiiiR'iit and dofs not dare to Ix' liimself. Senator l'i.f:«i!, 
however, always dared to lie liimself, and. whetlier lie stood 
alone or was supported by olliers. lie li;id the eonraye of Ids 
<;onscienee and tlie dijinity of Ids nianlnpod as Ids roi-k of de 
leuse. 

There is no State, y\.\. Speaker, in tlie I'nion so much like 
Ohio in its lej^islalion and laws as Kansas, llavinjj some in- 
terests in that State, 1 have had occasion to he tliere very often, 
and have always noticed this reinarkahle unifornnty. The 
niana,i;enient of public affairs In Kansas diflers very little, if 
any. from tlu' mana;;emeMl of public alVairs in Ohio. I have 
often wondered at this resendjlance and ha\<- heard it sjjokeii 
of by others, and I think I can now aci'ount for it largely by 
noting the connect inji link between these two States, which is 
found in the life of Senator I'l.rMii. lie was l)orn in Ohio, 
learned the printers' trade in Ohio, editetl and i)ublished his 
first iiewspai>er in Ohio, studied law in Ohio, atti-nded two 
courses of law lectures in Cleveland, Ohio, was adnutted to the 
l)ar ill Ohio, and was subsecjuently married in Ohio. 

Going to Kansas, as he did, as ])rinter, editor, lawyer, soldier, 
jiolitician, when the Territory of ICaiusas was a trackl(>ss prairie, 
ami participatiiif;, as he did, in framing the constitution and 
in making the laws of Kansas when tiie Tcrritoiy became a 
Slate, it was natural enough that he should, as far as possible, 
<'opy into the constitution and laws of Kansas the constitution 
and laws of Ohio, and 1 am peisuaded that no other one iudi- 
\idual iiad so much to do in making Kansas so much lil;e Ohio 
as oui lamented and hmioicd Senator. 

Mr. Speaker, the one thing that has astoidshed me more than 
all else besides, since 1 have been in Congress, is the freiiuency 
with which death crosses the threshold of this Hall. Seat 
after seal has been xacated. funeral alter fiiiu'ial lias taken 



Life and Character of Prcslou /I. riitnib. 151 

lilacc, :uul scurccly ;i siujile inontli piisscs Inun the oiicniiiff to 
till' closf of a session of Cougress without tlic startling appear- 
auee of this great shadow. 

"In the midst of life we are in deatli " is true everywhere, 
Imt it seems to have a. donble meaning to the members of 
this House, and its warning voice needs to be written upon 
the walls of this Chamber and kept fresh in the memories of 
those who sit beneath the Dome of this Capitol. 



ADDRESS OF Mr, Otis of Kansas, 

Mr. Otis. Mr. Speaker, Senator Plumb was a man of deeds, 
and not of long speeches. Action, bold, energetic, and persist- 
ent, was characteristic of the man. He had the courage to 
dare, and also the ability to do. Educated in the school of 
adversity in early youth, he was equal to prosperity in mature 
manhood. Political honors did not elate liim. He was always 
in touch with tlie comuKm i)eople. He was great in his sim- 
plicity. Elected Senator from a State born in the throes of 
political revolution, bajitized in the blood of freedom, and 
whose early history is written in the crimson letters of an irre- 
pressible contlict, called upon to represent a constituency pre- 
eminently industrious and enterprising, intelligent and pro- 
gressive, his tasli in the legislative councils of the nation was 
one fraught with Herculean labor and great responsibility. 

And now beside the freshly sodded grave all partisan feeling 
vanishes and the mantle of charity is kindly thrown over all 
human frailties. But Preston B. Plumb was by nature a 
patriot, and not a partisan, in any offensive sense, as the term 
is usually ap])li('d. Mr. Speaker, I have no desii-e to engage 
in fulsonu' eulogy; liut could tliat inanimate canvas hanging 
from the wall upon your right by some magic process become 
iml)ued with life, ami (ieorge Washington speak to the as- 



152 Address of Mr. c)//s, of Kansas, on tlic 

seiublt'il Hi'presi-ntatives in this Hall, uruiuji iiinni iht'iii to 
" r.cwarc oftlic spirit of party" and to place •• Tatriotisni be- 
tbrf partisanisiii," lie would but voici' tlu- honest eonvietions 
of him whose memory we seek to honor here today. 

Could the "jaUant Lafayette, there ui)ou tlie left, be heard in 
accents l)old and free, ln'could unt a.> a lilieity loving French- 
man utter words in i)ehalf of suil'erinj; humanity and free insti- 
tutions more potent than many of the words and deeds of our 
Kansas Senator. He risked his own life to save the life of a 
disabled wayfarinj; traveler. .V native of Ohio, he early emi- 
grated to Kansas and liecauu' thoron>;hly identified with her 
early history and lur material interests. If 1 am permitted 
to notice any sectional distinction, lie was preennnently what 
might be called -'a western man:" bul ••western" in the sense 
of being brave and broad, even world-wide. Every instinct 
of his nature drew him toward the toiling masses and away 
from the sjioliatiug classes. Whilst national in the truest 
sense, he could not sit idly by and see one .section dominate 
over another. Krom our standpoint no higher tribute could 
be ])aiil to the dcceaseil than to (pu)te from his remarks of 
August 1 and June G, ISlUt, in the Senate of the United States. 
The highest eulogy of the dead should be measured by their 
deeds and words while living. 

On August 1, IS'.tO, in sjieakinu upon the tariff (|Uestion. lie 
u.sed this truthful language: 

'• Let us seek for .some means for rai.sing the revenue lor the 
f lovernment besides imjiosing these great and enormims duties 
upon the articles in common use by the people. Let us invoke 
some of the intelligence and ability which are po.s.sessed by 
American statesmen to discover means and articles upon which 
taxes can be imposed without distressing tlie )ioor."' 

On Jiineli. 18!)l». speaking upon the money question, he said: 

"Any legislation which 1 consent to must iierinanently widen 



Liji- and Cha racier of Pn-slon B. Pliiuib. 153 

llif base, iiHisI citlicr rt'Cdyiii/.c hdtli metals :is iiioncy (ir niiisl 
discard both and put in their jilaec pa])er irioiiey, tlie vuliiiiic 
lit' whieh can be e\])aiided so as to meet the ineieasinj; needs 
(pfiiieieasiimbusinoss. Aiciiiiiiedes said tliatiflie liad a plaee 
to put liis tnicium he <'ou]d lift tlie world. Gi\e the Ameiieaii 
lieopie the base on which to plant their feet, with iiicreasiii';- 
breadth to meet iiicreasiiiji needs: yive them the financial 
iiistrnmentalities which they need tor th<' develoinneiit ottiieir 
resonn-es, room for the exercise e>^ their intelligence, their en 
terprise, their I'oura.-c. they will not only move the world, but 
they will lead it.'" 

After all that his distinj^uisheil colleagues iu the Senate 
liave spoken in lii.s praise it is useless for me to further extend 
remarks in this directicm. His services are missed. IJut whilst 
his death is looked npou as a public loss, alas! what shall we 
say of the loss to wife and children? Here speech becomes 
powerless and words lose their signitieance! Upon such an 
occasion he speaks most feelingly who uses fewest woids. 
Sometimes sympathy is most keenly expressed in profound 
silence. In closing I will simply (piote the language used by 
himself upon a similar occasion iu honor of Senator Beck of 
Keutircky : 

"Thus once more we pay farewell honors to one who was a. 
leader among us, whose talents challenged our admiration, and 
whose candor and amiability of nature and tenacious fidelity 
to duty will continue an example w orthy of imitation through 
all coming time." 



154 Address of Mr. Toioiisend, of Colorado, ott the 



Address of Mr. Townsend, of Colorado. 

Mr. TowNSKM). Mr. Speaker, tlic dcatli dF Senator PurMB 
was a shock to liis friends anil tn tlic conntry. To those who 
knew him personally he was the embodiment of i)hy.sical endur- 
anee, eom-age, and manliood. >'o one, unless it were his most 
intimate friends, was aware that lie was tniiihhil witli any ail- 
ment, much less that he was so suddenly to be stricken tatally. 
Ko event could more forcibly teach the lesson that in the "midst 
of life we are in death." It is therefore most ])roi)er that we 
.should stopfer a brief hour and cuiisider this reiiiarUalilc \\y.\\\. 
whose career has been so illustrious. Nothing: that words can 
convey will relieve tlie deej) ^rii'f i»"<l sadness and sorrow tliat 
enshrouds tlu' honic and family of this dei)arted husband and 
father, whose (h)iiicstic virtues were unexcelled by his fame 
and worili and aliility as a statesman. Hut we may be able 
tosay sonu-thinu- of this nnin'slife that shall i>rove of value to 
others who are animated by an Inuiorable ambition. For — 

Lives of great men all reiiiiiiil us 

We can make nur lives suMime. 
AikI, (li']iaitiiij;, leave 1)eliiii(l us 

l'oiil|iriiils on tlie s;inils ciC tiiiii'. 

Koiitpiiiils wliieli ]>erliaiis aniillier 

Sailing o'er life's dieaiv main, 
A t'lirloin anil sliipwreiUed limtlier, 

Seeing, may take heart again. 

Preston I>, I'ltmi! lias (innislieil anotiuT ilbistrious ex- 
ample of wiiat iionorable anibiiion, si erliny- manhood, and dili 
•rent industry 7nay accomplish uniU-r tlie beuelicent intluences 
of our free institution.s. Fn-e republican j,'overument can oiler 
no lii^jher testimonial 1o the Iminan race than that, under its 
liberal opportunities, its eMhir;.;cd fieedimi. its wise rcfjard lor 
the i-i^hts and pri\ih-t;es of tin- individual cili/en. il has been 



Life and Character of Preston B. I'linnl). U^^^ 

so prolilic in its .U'vclopniciit of uicii wiio in the iirts and 
sciences, in icli-ion and politics, in war and in statesinansliip, 
liavc added t,.lmuian -icatiiess. as well as to tlie honor, glory, 
and lame of their country. The record and history of the life 
of Senator l'n-:\iB will he more eflieiently .stated Ijy others 
who are more familiar with the details than I am. Yet a 
fjlance at his life is necessary to fully comprehend his achieve- 
ments and the more prominent features of his character. 

Born in is;57, he was electc.l to the United State Senate in 
1S77, at the age of 40 years, and at the time of his death, 
after three elections an<l over fourteen years' service in that 
honorable body, it would be unjust to say that his Influence 
and usefulness were not e(pml to that of any other member. 
Learning the print.-rs' trade at 12 years of ai-e, establishing 
a newspaper wlicn only Hi at Xenia, Ohio, he remove<l to 
Kansas in I8;3(i at the age of 111 years and began the career 
that made him conspicuous in his State and throughout the 

nation. 

The political c(mditi(ms existing in Kansas in 1850 are 
matters of public history, but at this time no one will contro- 
vert the statement that the establishment on the plains of 
Kansas of a Territory and a State d.^voted to free soil and free 
men precipitate.l the war of the rebellion. The environment 
of his early manhood made him love liberty and hate slavery; 
taught him that freedom was one of the inalienable rights of 
man and respect for those rights the duty of every good cirizen. 
At LT) he was a mend..M- of the legislature of his State and 
rep(n-ter for the supreme court. In 1802 he enliste.l in the 
Union Army and rose rapidly to the rank of lieutenant-colonel 
of his regiment. In ISCr, we find him again in the legislature 
of his State and speakei- of the house of repivsentatives, and 
in 1872 he «as made i)resident and manager of a bank at Em- 
])oria, Kans.. where he resided. 



1-"j6 Address of Mr. ToiL'nscnd., of Colorado^ on the 

I'fihaii.-- tin- must i-ous]>icuous cliaracteristic ul tliis actixe 
man was his .siijufiiic (IcvuIiiJii tn liis iliitics. lie never spared 
liimself. Ilis rapacity nl' labor was tlie wonder of liis IViemis. 
Me j;ave to his otlieial duties the enerj^y. zeal, and i)aiiistak- 
inj; investigation that ina«le him master of every subject upon 
whieli he was ealled to act. In debate he was tlueiit of si)eeeb 
and frequently eIo(pieiit, always elear and logical, and with 
the utmost candor and ab.solute fearlessness, lie liad an 
acute an<l analytical mind, (piick perception, and souiul judg- 
ment. His imnien.se industry, eomhined with a wide acipiaint- 
ance and knowledge of business alfairs, enabled him to engage 
with great success and protit in large business undertakings. 
His presence was like a breeze from the plains and his energy 
gav(! life to his occupations. He was an ins]iiration to <ithers. 
His vigorous and rugged manhood, combined with a genial 
tem]ier. made him a pleasant companion and as.sociate. He 
liad hosts of personal friends, and his popularity was great 
wherever he was personally known. This was esi)ecially true 
in the West, w heie he was widely known. His sympathies 
were keen and were readily touched. 

He was a man of the ix'oiile, and care lor their interest was 
the law of his otlieial lite. He stood among his fellow men 
like one of the loftier peaks in a mountain range. Tlie eyes 
of thousainls were turned in his direction. It is liclieved by 
many that, had his life been s[)ared, higher and greater honors 
awaited him. His death seems untinu'ly; it was so sudden, so 
unexpected: but sad and ]>aiiiful as it may be it is the law of 
our being and is inexorable. We should be pre]iared to meet 
it at any time and api)roacli the grave like one who — 

wraps Ilu* (Irapcry (if liis rotirli 
Alioiit liim ami lict. iliiwn to pleasant droaiiis. 



Life and Character of Preston />. I'/iiuib. \'u 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Davis, of Kansas. 

Mr. Davls. Air. Sjioakcr. we are liere to pay flic last, tribute 
ot respect ofrlic liviu.i;- to tlic dead. Nothiiiji' that we can .say 
or do can chaiiyc the condition of liiin whusc memory \\c here 
coHiniemoratc. Uiit, on the other hand, we may both comfort 
and benetit theliviun'. We may hold up examples to be either 
imitated or shunned. The suliject of our remarks to-day i,s au 
examph' of what may be acconiplished by an American youth 
of energy and industry under favorable conditions, lie came 
to Kansas when that State was full of rich uatural and polit- 
ical opportunities. He knew how to grasp them and u.se them 
and his life was a financial and ]>olitical success. 

I'KESTON B. I'lumb. of Emporia, Kans.. was born in Dela- 
ware County, Ohio, October 12, 1837: he received a cominon- 
sehool education and learned the art of printiog: he removed 
to Jvausas m ls.")(i; was a member of the Leavenworth consti- 
tutional convention in l.S5!>; was admitted to the bar in 1801; 
served in tlie lower house of the legislature in 18(i2, and was 
chairman of the Judiciary committee, and sul)sequeiitly re- 
porter of the supreme court. In August of the same year he 
entered the Army as second lieutenant in the Eleventh Kan 
sas Infantry, and served successively as captain, major, and 
lieutenant-colonel of that regiment: and was commissioned as 
colonel of the same regiment in August, 18(!2. He was a mem- 
ber and si)eaker of the Kansas house of representatives in 
1800. and also a member in the following year: he was elected 
to the United States Senate to .succeed James M. Harvey, and 
took his seat Marcli 4, 1877, and was reelected in ]88;^ and 1888. 
Col. Plumb did good service in his country's cause, and was 
duly honored by his countrymen, in recognition of Lis ability 
and i)atriotism. In politics Senator Plumb was a Republican; 



158 .Iddress of Mr. Dazis, of Kansas^ on the 

Vft on till' (|iiestit)iis (if riiiaiu't' :iu(l tarill' lie often testified and 
bravely (•(niteiideil on the side of the people. Many of his 
ablest speeehes are models of lofiie, truth, and patriotism. I 
once wrote him a letter of tliaiiks tor uulili' words spoken in 
the United States Senate. He replied liilly and fianlcly: 

*• What you commend me for is what I have been doing ever 
since 1 have been in Congress. That is to say, I have opjwsed 
the contraction of the 4urrency. I have advocated the enlarge- 
ment of the volume of the currency, and I proposed the amend 
tiient, which you so highly commend, to a bill jiending in tlie 
Senate four years ago. It was not adopted, but 1 did all 1 
<'ould to have it adopted. Generally speaking, 1 have no doubt 
you and I would agree about matters concerning the currency. 
At all events 1 can say that the views that 1 had when 1 came 
to the Senate, and which 1 have often expressed, have under- 
gone no change, unless it lie that they are more lixed than 
ever. I do not believe in a currency to be provided by the 
banks, because I can not conceive that the volume of such a 
currency woidd be inevitably adapted to the needs of the 
countrj'."' 

My acquaintance with Prestos B. Plumb commenced in 
187.'5, when, on his invitation, 1 was calletl to address the peo- 
ple of his county at the Lyon County fair. I thus became a 
guest in his family. From that time to the day of his death 
our acquaintance and friendship continued. Although we 
sometimes crossed political swords in the news]iapers, and 
met each other in public and joint debate, yet these incidents 
worked no personal alienation. Through all these years the 
chain of friendshiji and iiersonal regard and apjireciation re- 
mained unbroken. His was a practical mind of large com 
prehension. His was a power which molded men. Mis third 
election to the United States Senate was uiiaiiiinoiis by tlie 
legislature, in a State charged to the explosive point with 



Life and Character of Prcsloii B. PIniiib. 159 

living- tlioiiulit and ]>olilical revolution. I Ic was eminently a 
man (if deeds. He spoke freely and boldly, hut he was most 
noted tor aetioii. It was a eoiiniioii expression in Kansas on 
sudden enuT.uencies: ■• \\'liat w ill In.i^alls say ?" And, •• What 
will J'LUJIB doT' 

But T am not here for detailecl liistor\- noi- alone tor eulogy. 
The living nuist he henefited or our words here are tor naught. 

The sinldeii death of Senator Plu:mi! should reniind us that 
at all times we are snhject to call hy the Great Leveler of 
Humanity. Tbi-rc is no moment of life when "the tall, the 
■wise, the reverend head" may not be called to lie as low as 
the humhlest. There is no time when our loxed ones may not 
be called to taste the same anguish and to sutVer the same 
bearthreak which aiHict the stricken family in Emporia. All 
that breathe must share the same fate. The joyous nniy laugh 
till the summons comes. The sad may ]>lod on in theii- melan- 
choly, the ambitious may chase their jihantoms, and the work- 
ers may not cease their labors. Yet mirth and melancholy, 
work and ambition, must have an end. All of man that is 
mortal will tind its bed in dust '-as the long train of the ages 
glides away." Youth and manhood, the matron and the maid, 
and soft breathing infancy will tind the same level in their 
last narrow bed of rest. Yet there is an immortal soul which 
sleeps not in lifeless day. A spark of life from the eternal 
altar which never ceases to glow, destined to endless life and 
growth. With this, hoi)e, Oh man ! 

So live, that wlu-n thy sumuiDiis comes to join 
Tlie innumerable caravan which moves 
To that mysterious realm wliere each shall take 
His chamber in the silent halls of death. 
Thou go not. like the ([uarry-slave at night, 
Scourged to his dungeon, but sustaine<l and soothed 
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave 
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch 
About him and lies down to jdeasant dreams. 

— liryunt. 



160 .IMnss of Mr. Bar tine, of Nevada, on the 

( )m occMsioiis like this the tlKni^litfiil iiiiinl looks with eosiiiie 
view ami iufliiite humility from this sliort life into the eterni- 
ties of the past auil the future, and the spirit of the favorite 
verses of the great liineolu spontaneously arises to aid in 
'•celebrating our grief:'" 

oh, wLy sliiiiilil till' sjiiril ol' mortal br jnoml? 
I^iko a Cast-llittiiij; inrtfor, a fast-tiyin;; floud, 
A Hash of the li^htiiin;;. a l)rL'ak ol" tlie wave, 
He pa^seth I'roui life to his rest in the gravt. 

The leaves ot' the oak ami the willow shall fade, 
Be scattered around, aud to-^ether In- laid; 
And till' youn;; and the old. and the low and the high 
Shall uiolder to dnst and tofjether shall die. 

So the niultifnde i^oes, like the flower or the weed, 
That withers away to let others sncceed; 
So the multitndu comes, even those we heboid. 
To rejieat every tale that has often heen told. 

'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draft of a Ineatb, 
From the lilossoni of health to the paleness of death, 
Krom the gilded saloon to the liier and the shrond; 
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal he prond? 



ADDRESS OF MR. BARTINE, OF NEVADA. 

Mr. liAKTTNE. Mr. Speaker, 1 was iievei more painfully iiii- 
l)resscil with the nneertainty of human life than when, on the 
20th day of Decemher last, I learned that the senior Senator 
from Kansas was dead. When 1 came here a.s a new member 
of the rifty-fir.st Congress, one of the earliest friendships I 
formed at the other end of tlie <'a])itol was with PliKSToN H. 
1*1.1 MI!. There was tViiiii I lie lirsl a liiind iirsyiiipatli y lict ween 
us in the eireumstanoe that one of his lirothers isa friend and 
(•onstituent (if mine in the State of Nevada. 

I already knew the Senator, in a general way. b.\ his public 



Life aiK^ Chaiadrr of I'rcsl,>}i /I. riniiih. 1(11 

career anil national icpnlatidn, and ii|>(in inert uiu liiiii I wasat 
once attraetcil ))yhis strong personality and -enial nature. 
During- the first U-w weeks of the present session I was snller 
ing IVoni illness and was not able to be in my seat. Wlien par 
tially recovered. Imt still very weak. ! came to IlieCapiiol one 
day and entered tlie Senate C-liamber. Ahuost tlie linst Sena- 
tor to sreet me was Vly. Plumb. Well do 1 remember the cor 
diality of his welcome and the kindly solicitude with which lie 
spoke of my illness. In less than a week he was -one. Little 
would anyone who saw us then have supi)osed that the stal 
wart Senator, with his robust, almost giant physiqui-, would 
so so(m lie beneath the sod and I be spared to take part in the 
memorial service of this day. 

Truly has it been said that " in the midst of life we are in 
death." 

The distinguished Senator fiiim Kansas was stricken down 
in the full prime of vigDrous manhood. .Tndging from appear- 
ances, we would have said that he had a, (piarter of a century 
of strong and useful life before him. We can not do otherwise 
than lament the death of such a iimn at such ati age. In the 
great ocean of time the utmost sjian of a human life is but as 
the '-twinkliug of an eye." It begins, it is gone, and the cter 
nity of the future is as measureless as before. 

To the individual possessor of that mysterious thing which we 
call life it makes but little diiterence whether it clo.se at 25 years 
or 1 .e extended to a century. Whether his sjiirit wing its flight 
to the Christian's "Home of the soul" or sink into Nirvana's 
dreamless calm, the length of his earthly existence is to him a 
matter of trivial concern. But it is freighted with importance 
to others. 

Man comes and man goes, but men, like the brook, "go on 
forever." Generation follows generation as the seasons follow 
each other, and every generation aims at a higher ideal than 
the one which went before. 
S. Mis. 228 11 



ir 



1G2 .Iddrtss of Mr. /iarti>n\ of Xcvmia, on the 

Tlu'rcl'inp, 111 tlie^n-cat iiro<;ri'ssive uuuch of maiikiiiil if doi-s 
make a ililVereiici' whrtlicr the life i>f siiili a man Ih- knitrtli- 
iMicd lint or bf broiifilit to a lui'iiiaruii' cinl. Wlieii we con 
sidfi' liis iiitellei-tiial strciif,'tli, liis tapacitv fur lalior. tlii- 
hreadtli and generosity of liis natnif. and liis warm love f< 
his fellow man. who can measnre the amoniit of good that 
might haveeume from twenty years more of sueli a life? One 
little tlionglit germinating in the seeret ehambers of a single 
hraiii may impress itself npon the niiiuls of untold millions, 
eliange the fortunes of mighty nations, and shape the des- 
tinies of a world. 

Senator Plumh was a tireless wonccr. His mind was ever 
active and full of plans for the improvement of society. His 
ideas were broad, national, ami thoroughly American. He 
made uo claim to perfection; his frieuds make no such claim 
for him. Had he been i)erfect he w.udd not have been human. 
He would have been at once above our appreciation and be- 
yond uur comprehension, lie was simply a manly man. in wliom 
the. iiialities which inspire love and admiration largely pre- 
dominated. 

His life was a lesson that should never be lost upon the 
youth of our land, r.oni with the love of liberty in his heart, 
that sentiment grew ami Idossonicd and ripened upon the 
plains of Kansas. In the midst of stormy and tnrbnlcnt scenes, 
frcipu-ntly ending in .strife and bloodshed, as a mere boy he 
helped lay the tbnndations of one of the greatest and grandest 
Statesof the American I'liion. That same love ofliberty.com 
billed with iiatriotism, made him a .soldier of the Union, and 
npon the battle field he displayed the same resolution and dc 
termined courage that distinguished him in civil life. 

His career in the Senate was in the highest degree honorable 
both to him.self and the people whom he represented. He wa.s 
not what could fairly be called an orator. He thought more of 



Life and Cluiiactcr of /'rcstoii />'. litiuib. \W, 

tlic kleatliaii of tlic Iaii^iiai;f in wliicli it was (dotlu'd. Tline 
was a lack of those };iacefal movoiiKUits. the clciiant roiiiidiiij;- 
of jxTiods, the beautiful imaj;ery and word i)aiiitiug- that ujark 
the iiolished orator. 

r.ut he was uevertlieh'Ss a strikin,i;ly cousiiicuous li.i;iire in 
that body. A (-hise student, a thorough investigator, fauiihar 
with nearly every detail of g(nernmeutal administration, a 
elear, incisive, and ready debater, he shrank from no eneouiiter. 
His lauce was ever couched, and it seldom faileil to reach the 
object at which it was aimed. But he always struck iu a sj)irit 
of kinilness and never inteutioually gave pain. Associated with 
some of the strongest intellects of the age, he grew aud strength- 
ened by the association. Ills tremendous i)hysical energy and 
mental activity enabled him to transact au amount of work 
that is almost incredible; and the impress of his sturdy and 
practical mind has beeu left upon many a page of the statute- 
books of the country. 

:Mr. Plumb was a Republican and deeply imbued with the 
fundamental principles of that party. He realized, however, 
that no political organization can be uniformly right, and upon 
matters of detail, not going to the principles upon which 
the party was foundi'd, he was l)oldly and sometimes ag- 
gressively independent. INIore than once he drew upon himself 
the censure of his party associates. But it was political cen- 
sure only. He was a brave and Iwrnorable oi»pouent, never 
lurking in darkness, never tiring from ambush, but always in 
the clear light of day, lighting upon open gnmnd, and he held 
the respect and esteem of his brother Senators to the last. As 
a member of a body in which it is generally believed that 
patrician ideas have to some extent found a lodgment, Jlr. 
Plumb was essentially and distinctly a tribune of the peo])le. 
Although possessing an ample fortune, his tastes were plain 
aud simple, and no icy barrier separated him from the toiling 



164 Address of Mr. Barlhu\ of Xcvada, on the 

inillious of his (•(nuitrymcii. llf leiufiiilifrcd the liiiiiil)li' 
i-iailli' ill whitli lie was loclct'tl; he leiiii'mlH'red the i)i>veity 
of his early yoiitli; he leiiiemhered the road by whieh he had 
traveled to fortune, lie irali/.ed that, while he liad been .sue 
eessfiil in aeiiiiiriii^ wi alili. favoriii^ ciiciiiustaiiee.sliad guided 
and iliircted his cflbrts. lie knew full well that a man's siie- 
eess ill l)usiiiess is not l>y any iiu'aus a fair test of either his 
moral or iiitelleetual worth. To him it made no ditlerenee 
whether a man were a millionaire or a day laborer. lie Judged 
both by the same standard: tin- (|nalities of manhood which he 
found them to possess. Cosmopolitan enough to love the wholi- 
human family and rejoiee in the ju-osperity of every nation, 
he yet loved his own i-ouiitry better than he loved an\ other 
(■ouiilr\ : he loved till- A incrirau pcopli' bcttrr than he loved 
any other people, and he loved the [leople of Kansas a little 
better than he loved the people of any other .State. 

And no people ever had a more faithful publie servant than 
tho.se for whom he spoke and aeted in the Senate of the United 
States. 

From morn till eve, and away into the small hours of the 
night, he toiled on and on. And when the bu.sy brain ceased 
its working, when the .strong heart was suddenly stilled, the 
great ehauge found him in the conscieutions discharge of his 
duty. When he died. Kansas was robed in mourning. It 
seemed as if a shadow had entered every liouseholil. l']ver\ 
Kansan felt that he iiad lost a friend, and the heart of the 
wholi- nation throbbed in sym|)alhetie accord. His work has 
been done, and well done; the journey of his life has ended; 
beneath the .soil of the State he loved .so well he is sleeping his 
last slee]i: his .soul is mingling with the infinite and the un 
kiinu n. 

To the family so near and dear to liim in life we ean only 
sneak words of < solation. Their loss has l»een irreparable. 



Life and L'haraclir of Preston />'. P/iiiii/k HiT) 

One lias liccii taken fnnii tliciii wlidcaii iit'scr Ix' rcplacfd. luit 
1 tnisl tlicy may liiid siiiiic (•(Hiilort in kniiwinf;- that tlui 
uatiiiii shaifs llicir ,t;iicl' May tlic load of their sorrow ho 
lijiliteiKMl hy the failli lliat, lai- fmni tiie scenes of earthly care, 
the spirit (if tlieir loved one is iioveriiii; o"ei- tiii'ni and eheerin.!;' 
them with the sweetest words of liope. l-'rom the silen<'e so 
profoiiiKl may there come the dear familiar voice, saying unto 

tliem: 

The liviiij;' are the. only (Uiiul : 

Tlie (lead live, nevermore to die; 
And often when we iiiouru them lle(l, 

Thev never were so nigh. 



The joys we h^^e .\vr Imt forecast. 

And we shall find them all ouee more; 

We look hehiud us for the past, 
But hi! "tis all hefore. 



ADDRESS OF Mr, Gate, of Arkansas. 

Mr. (Jatk. Mr. Speal<er. my aci[uaintance with the late Sen- 
ator from Kansas, of whom it is my jnixileye to sjieak at this 
time, was so limited as to preclude me from making any ex- 
tended -omment on his personal characteristics and virtnes. 

What I may snltmit will he the views and impressions that 
have come to me in an otticial or "cneral way. 

Others more favored in beinji' permitted to know liini more 
intimately have spoken, and will speak, of his oreat personal 
worth and his noble iirivate character. 

It is my iirovince to regard him almost entirely from tlie 
record lie has made, from Ilie impress that he has left uiion 
the thonghts and feidini^s of his people, the ■•footprints" he has 
left "U])on thi^ sands of time." 

Of commiindin.i; ability and tinendino- industry, with a fac- 



1*>() Adiircss of Mr. Catc, of Arkansas, on tin- 

\\\\\ Inr wdik and a dispositinii tn <lii it railhl'ully, yot appar 
ciiily ImiiiiuHcss ill tlic ^^rasp of liis (•<iiiipit'lieiisii(ii, faultlessly 
acriuatf in details. (|uick to ]icrcci\c his ojiportuiiitii's and 
fvtT ready to utilize them, he forniiilated his plans with iiii 
eniiifi Judgment and executed them with unfaltering boldness. 

Pos.sessingf tlius within himself all the elements of sueeess. 
he sueeeeded. 

He was at once the prod net ami the exponent ol' that [le.'uliur 
civili/ation and iiitellijrPiit development which has made re- 
maikahle the history of our laee in the last half of the nine- 
teenth century anil recorded its grandest achievements in the 
jirogress of our great Uepublic. Il<' wasiirei'iniiiently "a man 
of atfairs.'* and withal a i)atriot and a statesman. 

In tile iifeand in the dcatli of Senator PLr:MB we are taught 
two lessons. 

In his busy, earnest lite and its achievement.s we learn that 
under our free institutions no bounds are set to the jiossibilities 
of intellectual inilcaxor dincted by a clear Judgment and sup- 
jilemented by industry: in his death we learn that there is a 
jihysical limit to human endurance. 

So far as the first can be considered, he was only within the 
threshold of his accomplishments: what he might have done 
had lie been given the allotfeil sjian. no one can conjecture. 

.Vs to the last, he had reached the end. The bow too often 
and too severely bent had broken while many arrows were yet 
uiis]ied and in the ipiixcr. 

Ueiiig one of those who accompanieil his remains to their 
last resting-iilace, :iii o|)i)ortuiiity was atfoided me' to ascer- 
tiiin and observe the liohl he had iijion his countiymen. the 
esteem in which lie was held bythosi' among whom he had 
lived and for whom he had labored. 

Tliose foinial manifestations ol sorrow which mark the loss 
of :in eminent citi/.eii were not wanting. 



/,//('■ and Character of Preston />'. /'imiif/. Ii!7 

They were clnboiMtc. in iinod taste, and in every way ciini 
iiiensurate witli the suh-ninity anil niaunitndf of the occasion. 

The i)a,u('aiit represented a i^reat State in niimrnin^' for a 
great man. 

But wliat iini)ressed ine. niort^ forcibly was that behind these 
public demonstrations there was a deiqi and abiding i)oi)nhir 
sorrow. In the crowds that tiiron.i;ed the capital city of his 
State, and his own city of l<]mi)oria. to do honor to their dis 
tinfiuished dead, there were all classes of ]ieoi)le. There were 
the sturdy nieeluiuie, the intelligent aud thoughtful merchant, 
the studious divine, the cautious banker, the farmer Ijroiized 
ill the sun and wind in his prairie home, and there also was 
the ever-bright face of l)uoyant childhood. 

People there were in thousands, but there was no busiuess; 
the farmer exclianged no product of the soil for the wares of 
tht^ merchant ; the banker's oftice was closed and the mechanic's 
shop was not open; there was no sound of the hammer in the 
city, aud even the gladsome shout of the schoolboy was not 
heard on this sad holiday. 

Each one seemed as if he had suffered a personal affliction. 

The Commonwealth was mourning the loss of a statesman; 
the peo]ile were sorrowing at the death of a friend. 

The bright and i)rogressive city where he had lived makes a 
part of the record of his life and his labors. His restless en 
ergy is seen and felt in its growth and industries, and no doubt 
in watching its ])rogress and its prosperity he luid often real 
ized the fruition of tlie hopes aud toils of his early manhood. 
His home was such as those who knew him would picture it to 
be; about it there was no elaborate effort at architecture, no 
affectation of the feudal castle or baronial mansion. Oomplete 
in its appointments, comfortable and convenient, within there 
was that air that ever pervades the abode of intelligent worth 
and pros])erous effort. The books evinced a cultivated taste 
for literature: the pictureson the wall stood f"r his patriotism. 



168 .IMnss of Mi: Ca/i\ of .Irkaiisas, on lite 

C<iiitc-mi>latinfr tlicsi- evidences of eomtnrt and eiilture. I 
tlionjxlit liow often in tlic Inifjht, l)iisy years that were f^oiu' 
had In- wlio now lay s.> piai-eliilly Ix-neath Mie rooftree he ha<l 
erected to shelter tliox- he luM-d: how ottcn. wearied witli tlie 
Imnh-ns ofinililic hie, wouiKhd and sickened and saddened in 
the strife incident to his career; in>\v often had he son<,dit I his 
home and witiiin its walls liad his hrnises honnd nji. liis armor 
buriilslied, his conra^cstren.iitln-ned.and hi> iiope renewed. and 
then jionc forth aj^ain stron;^ in tlie inspiration of honu'. love, 
and sym|>athy to other contints and to otln-r tnnin|ilis. 

r.nt he had uone out for the last time. Herolike, he had 
falliMi in the path of duty with his armor on. lie had foiijjlit 
his last battle and was now come losle";; his la.st sleej) anion-;- 
tho.se he loved .so well and who loved hiin. 

One other thou-jht and my remarks will he ended. As we 
joiiiiicy(-(l through the land and looked uiioii its homes and its 
industries, as I watched the faces of the peojih- who had uath- 
ered in throngs, it seemed to me that in all things there was a 
strong similarity Ix-tween that country ami its jieople and my 
own (-ountry and its [leople. In the two coniinunities there 
.seems to be a homogeneous impiilat ion ; men and wonii-n with 
like fortunes and misfortuues; the .same struggles, the same 
hopes and fears; a comiiKm country, one tlag. a like destiny. 
In all these interests there is no eimtlict; then why should 
there be strife Ijetween us.' 

As we stood by the open grave there was on my right a war 
worn veteran who had worn the blue, and in his eyes were 
tears; in front of me stood my colleague, who. in tho.se dark 
days of eisil war. I'ollowed the lortniies of the lost <-anse an<l 
w'hose saddened face rellected the sorrow that was in his heart. 

Here, then, in the shadow of death tliose who had confronted 
each other in the hour of battle had foMiid a common ground 
on which to meet in (;ommon symjiathy. 



Life and Cltaractcr of f'rrs/on />. Plumb. 109 

Will not the time soon coiiie wlicii, in tlic itrescncf ami in I lie 
interest of the livini;', we <Mn all make a common cansc of I lie 
coninion j;uo(l .' 

And when the bn.yler l)le\v ■'li.^hts unt" and tuined away, 
our fdinial dutit's ended, a ln)iie sprang up in oni- hearts that 
in the et>niiiij;- years, not liir away, we cnuld blow out the lights 
wliieh party passion and seetional prejudice iiave lighted to 
lead our jx-ople in di\ ergent paths. 

!\Iay we not believe that in the near future there will ema- 
uate from the graves of the great and good men in every sec- 
tion of our broad land a sjjirit of fraternal love and affection, 
proclaiming to all the people, from our Northern borders to our 
Soutliern shores, "on earth peace, good will to men!" 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Baker, of Kansas. 

Mr. Baker. .Mr. Speaker, I shall not attempt to give a 
historical sketch of the life of Preston B. I'lumb. but shall 
content myself to speak of him as he was seen by those who 
knew his active life. 

He whom we were le<l to believe was the incarnation of 
physical force and intellectual energy has fought his great 
fight, has finished his course, and we are here to-day to pay 
due respect to his memory. 

As one of the Representatives from th(^ State of his adoption 
I feel that it is a privilege to bring my meed of praise to place 
npon the tablet of his memory. 

The couplet — 

Dospnir of iiotliiug tliiit you wouM attain, 
T^iiwi'ariiMl (lilijii-ncc your point will .yain — 

seemed to be the insjjiration of his life. He was fully imbued 
with that manilate. '• Subdue the earth." He was energetic 



170 .hMnss of Mr. Baker, of fCaiisas, on the 

and assiiliidus. dili.Ufiit in all tlic \aiious luirsiiits of lifo. His 
oarni'Stiiess, wliolf-lii-arteilncss, anil stoadines.s in lal)i>r onablcd 
liini to overeonu- all obstacles to his success. Lal>or that would 
utterly have exhausted others seemed but to streufitheu hiui; 
he scfincd I<i Iniui-I wlial \\as lichin<l and was cNcr rcachiug 
forth to that which w:is bet'oie; and in doiny this he was but 
jiiessiDjj toward the j;oal for the great prize of his ambition. 

To deliberate, with him, was to act. He was thereby enabled 
to obtain po.ssessiou of much wliiiii he had not contemjilatcd. 
He believed that everything was progressive in its nature and 
that by industry all obstacles in life might be overcome. With 
him it jiromotefl sell'-res])cct and reliance and drove away a 
de]>enden<(' updU circumstaiu'es. 

lie believed that in working we reign, and soon learned the 
lesson that by industry man lifts himself to a seat among the 
great of earth. The i)oet has well described him as he was 
.seen by his constituent.s at home: 

.\iitl the sovil, fr<l and fattciirtl on the tlioughts aud tilings around it, 

Oroweth to perfection, full of fruit, the fruit of foreign seed. 

For wo Icara n])on a hint, we (ind upon a clew, 

We yield a liuudredfold; hut the j^reat sower is analogy. 

There must he an acriit sloe hefore a luscious peach, 

A hall of rotting llax liefori' tlie liridal veil. 

An egg hefore an eagle, a thought hefore a thing, 

.\ spark striiik into tiniler to light the lamp of knowledge, 

A slight suggestive word to guidi' tile watching mind, 

A balf-seeu haiul upon the wall, pointing to the halaiice of comiiarison. 

These seemed to be his moving forces. We (iml him toiling 
with the hand as well as the hea<l. He believed that all labor 
that tends to sujijjly man's wants, to iiu'reaseinan's happiness, 
to ele\ate man's nature — in laet, that all labor, iihysical and 
mental, were alike honorable. To him rest was ruin. He felt 
that the structure of his bodj- as a whole and every organ 
.showed that he w as designed tor activity . 

J'.nt a slrong man lias fallen, strong ]ihysically and intcd- 



Lift' and i'JiaracU-y of l'rcslo)i /!. riuiiib. 171 

k'ctiiidly. Tlic void (rt';itc(J li> liis dcatli iM\ not he easily 
tilk'd. To tlioso who knew liiiii his very pii'seiicc was ti tower 
of slreii^tli. Whatevi'i- he undertook with his j;reat iiitelleet 
marked liiiii as the peer of the ^reat men of his day. lie was 
always to lie I'ouikI in thefrontol'a contest, lie faltered at 
no odds. 1 >efeat uever dismayed him. Believing in the justi(;(^ 
of his cause, iH)thiug could deter him. As he came iu contact 
with the best minds, the greatest intellects of his day, \Ye found 
him tlieir equal, ntn'er shrinking from the contest. His record 
was that of a truly courageous man. IJe lived a life of fidelity 
to home and fannlv and of sincere devotion to his country. 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Henderson, of Illinois. 

Mr. Henderson. Mr. Si)ea-ker, \ can not ])ernut this memo- 
rial service to i)ass without offering some tribute to the mem- 
ory of one whom 1 so much lionored and respected as 1 did the 
late Seuator from Kansas, Hon. Preston B. Plumb. 

For the past fifteen years 1 have been associated with him 
in the i)nbli<', service in these legislative halls, lu^ at the other 
end of the, Capitol and 1 as a Uepresentative iu this body, ami 
during all tiiese years our acquaintance has been to me so 
pleasant tliat while otlieis are speaking to-day of his high 
character and distinguished services as a citiz(^n, soldier, and 
statesman, I could not forgive myself if 1 did not add my testi- 
mony, however feeble it may be, to his long, able, and faithful 
sersiceas w Si^uator and to his many noble and maidy qualities 
as a man. 

It was indeed a gratification to know such a man as Senator 
Plumb, for he was kind and genial Iti his inteicourse with his 
fellow men, and especially with his friends, and always ex- 
tended to them such a warm and cordial greeting as to nuike 
them feel better foi' his jdcsem'e. 



172 .hMrcss oj Mr. I [nuitison^ of Illinois^ on llw 

I met Senator IM.iMi! Cur the last time hut a tew ilays liefore 
Ills death, and apparently he was the same stiorij,', vifjormis 
man he had ever been since my first ac(iuaiiilaiiee with him. 
lie was flieertul and s<-eiiied to lie in jrood sjurits. and. s<i far 
as I observed, in yuod heallli. And when I lit;iiil dl' his sud- 
den, miexpeeted decease — that tins stroiiy man, tliis jjieatSen 
ator had been stricken down in the midst ol' liis usefulness and 
III' his remarkable career. I was severely shocked and could 
iiardly realize that the sail aniiouiiceinent was true. 

But. alas I it was true, and his uni'\|)eitcd decease <;ave to 
us. liis associates in public lite and friends who iiad known him 
so well, another strikiiiii lesson of the ^reat uncertainty of this 
life: a lesson which should rcmiiid us to do our work well, and 
to be ready. I'm- in such an hour as wi- kiinu not of we, too, 
may be called hence, and then it will be well for us if so j^oud 
an account can be given of our life work as can truly be of this 
great Senator whose death we so deeply lainenl. 

Sriiator ri.u:vilt always, U-k ny lirsl arqnainlancc with him. 

impressed me as being a man of great strength and vigor, 
both idiy.sically and intellect nally. lie seemed to jiossess all 
the elements of greatness. lie was strong in his ])hysical as 
he was 111 his mental orgaiii/.atioii. and was a man of wondciini 
industry and energy of character. He was bold and fearless 
in the assertion and maintenance of his o])iiiioiis. and what- 
ever cause lu; espoused found in him an earnest and powerful 
advocate. 

Observing his course in the public service, as I did. for 1 ad 
mired his high character. I can say with sincerity that I have 
seldom, if ever, known a man in public life u ho brought to the 
discharge of his duties greater ability and lidiliiy than did 
Senator I'I.UMI!. lie was ever watclifnl and dlligcni in guard- 
ing tilt! interests of the people of Kansas, and we may say of 
the whole country, for he was a patriot ill the broadest sense 



/.//?■ and CJutracter nf Preston />'. riiiinlt. 17:*. 

of the I('|-iii ;iii(l took :i dci'it interest in tlie iiatidiinl wcH'are 
;is well ;is that iif liis iiw n State. 

Im)!- nearly fifteen years I'ui'.SToN I'.. Pl.fMl? re|)resenle(l 
the State of ICansas in the Senate (iT the I'nited States, and 
diii-ili!,;' all the time of his illiistriuus sei'viee he was a, eonspic- 
UDiis and distiuiiuished nieiiilier of tiiat h(m(iral)le body; and 
it can lie truthfull\- said tliat no State iiad a more deNoted, 
t'aithfiil pnlilie servant than the State of Kansas had in Sen 
a tor PiA'Mli. 

Kansas honored herself in hoiiorini;' liiiu and in eleA'atint;' 
liim to the hiijli ottiee which hi' so ably tille<l: and in retuin 
for the honor eonferred npon him lie, by his eminent i>nl)lie 
serviee, shed luster upon tlie State of his adoption. 

But, Mr. Speaker, this reniarkablt^ man, this yreat Senator, 
who rendered sneli illustrious service to his State and countiy 
both in war and in peace, has passed away, and we shall see 
his familiar form and face in the Senate Cliainhcr and in this 
('apitol no mure foiever I After giviiii;' to hi.s State and to liis 
country the very best service of his strong and noble manhood, 
he has been stricken down \\hile robed in the honors of his 
high otliee. I!iit he lea \'es behind him an honorable name aud 
a record of which his State and the nation, his family and 
frieuds, may be justly proud. 

Let us who honor his nieinory to-(hiy strive toiiuitate his 
nol)le virtues and to give to our country that full measure of 
devotion to duty which constituted the highest distinction of 
this faithful Senator. 



174 Address of Mr. Post, of lUiuois, on the 



ADDRESS OF Mr. Post, of Illinois. 

Mr. Post. Mr. Spciikcr. tliedecaili? wliich prccetleil the civil 
war was iiiarkfd by a fervent discnssion ofliumau riy:lits ami 
was a tittiiifj prcliulf to heroic action. Trilics were IVirtJotteu; 
parties jtaused in their contests, disintegrated, and reorgan- 
ized; .systi-nis of revenue and other economic (piestions were 
laid aside, and imblic attention was absorbed l)y tlie one great 
issue. 

Our lievolutionary ancestors had asserted with eloquence 
and logic never snri)assed a jjcople's right to liberty and free 
government, and in 17".'> repuiliated their king, declared their 
independence, and submitted their api)eal to arm.s, always the 
final court of arbitration. 

Among the institutions which royal rulers had thrust upon 
the American colonies was that of African slavery, l^ngland 
boasted of her frecflom, but encouraged the slave trade, and 
even extiuted from S[)ain in ITl'! liie sole right of selling Af- 
rican slaves to the Spanish-American colonies. When Eng- 
land's king was forced to reliminisli authority on our soil, 
England's curse remaineil. 

The political convulsion which gave biriii to t lie Territory 
of Kansas again arou.sed tlie latent fires which had been sup- 
pressed by com])romi8e, and when I'HESTON 15. Pn'MH was 
18 years of age the country was aglow with the heat of a con- 
test destineil never to grow less until England's curse had been 
utterly wipeil out and tlie Keimblic rei'stablisinil cm the basis 
of universal freedom.. 

Born in Ohio in 1S.57 ami naturally loyal to Northern .senti- 
ment, the intiuence which this revival of the .s])irit of our Revo- 
lutionary ancestors had ujion Pkeston B. PLtDii! can now 



Life and Character of Preston /?. Pluiiib. 1 75 

hardly \w tfalizcd. Tiiucs liavc cliaiiniMl ; I lie scIkhiIs now 
claim the (U'snltory attention of j;ro\vii men tiirounh a course 
of study wliicli may tit tlieiu to coiupete Cor a life jmsitiou as a 
(lo\'ernmenl clcrli:. pRKS'l'dN 11. I'i,u:mis at IS was nol a s<-li(>ol- 
hoy, lint a. man ea.yerly grajipliiiL;' wit li tiie husiuessof life. 
At 12 years of age he liad begun to learu the jiriuters' tra(h', 
and at K! he liad established the Xenia News, and conducted 
it witli \igdr and success. 

He needed neitlier Latin diploma nor certificates from a com 
mission. lie had ac(jnired the trade which teaches ac( uracy 
iind attention to details; he had succeeded in that prufessiou 
in which humbugs and pretenders expose themselves. ' 

At IS PrestoX I!. I'h-:mb was a printer and a journalist. 
He was familiar with the tbuiulation principles of government 
as expounded by Hamilton, Jefferson, and by all the found(>rs 
of rei>iiblican liberty on this continent. He understood the 
constitutional limitatiiuis and the doctrine of 8tate rights as 
enunciated by those giants in intellectual controversy, Daniel 
Webster and John (J. Calhoun. He was equipped by informa- 
tion anil Judgnu'iit to grapple with public (piestions, and was 
conceded tlie rights and intiuencc in council of a jiatriotic citi- 
zen several years before the statute laws i)ermitted him to 
vote. 

The history of tlie settlement of Kansas is a romam-e and a 
tragedy. \Vithin the Territory was the geograi)hical center of 
the United States, for Alaska had not yet been ac(iuired. This 
arena was formally dedicated by act of Congress to be a battle 
field in which to inaugurate the physk^al contest between the 
hosts of freedom and of slavery. 

The Misscuiri compromise had reseived Kansas for freedom, 
but on opening it tor settlement Congress declared that reser- 
vation "inoperative and void," and defined its intent and 
meaning to be " not to legislate slavery into any State or Terri- 



176 AiMrcss of Mr. Posf, of Illinois^ on iJic 

toiy I'l- cxcluilc it lliiTcridiii. lull Id liM\c tlic people tlH'recpl' 
pi'lfectly free to loriii ;inil l(";iiilatc llicir ildincstif iiistiniliniis 
ill tlii'ir own \v;iy." 

Tlic Constitution liad riM-ii;;iii/cil the iiefiiliar iiistitiitiun, 
not (ill- jireserv aiiiin. Imt Inr (lis<,'ouriij;:ement. Its extension 
had been limited by law, but tin- Kansas-Xebraska bill arrested 
tlie onward nian-li of civilixation, took a step baekwai'd. and 
antliorized slavery to be cai ried into a Territory wliere it bad 
never been. To this William II. Seward responded: 

'• Come ou, then, gentlemen of the slave States! Siuee there 
is no eseajiinj;' your ehallenuc I aeeejit on behalf ol' freedom. 
We will eiifia^u'e in eomiictition for the \ii<4iii soil of Kansas, 
and (IikI ^ive the victmy to tlii' si<lc that is stronger in num- 
bers as it is ill rij^ht. 

The eager skirmishers hastened to the designated arena. 
The land was fair to look upon. Its wide stretehes of undula- 
ting prairie were annually covered with tiowers masse<l in 
profiisidii and licaiil il'ii! in Ilieir \aiiegated disorder, wliile the 
eourse of the streams might be traeed by tlu; fringe of timber 
which had escaped the autumn lires. Its salubrious climate 
attracted many who sought relief from northern rigor, and its 
A'aiied agnculimal resources were heralded far and wide. 

Among its resources, destined to he dissijiated uselessly and 
cruelly, were the immense herds of buffaloes accustomed to 
make their aninml northern pilgriniag(> across KaiLSas during 
the smiiiiier. retiirning late in the anliiinn to the South. In 
the midst of the territcu'y thrown open to white settlement 
were larg<' tracts held l)y various Indian tribes undi'r solemn 
treaty obligations that their occupation should be protected 
and iie\er distill bed. Some ot' the tribes had been loiiiid there 
in I7I!(. when Dnlisiie, the discoxerer of Kansas, was courte- 
ously received in their villages and wigwams. 

\Vlien the Americans began to pour into Kansas it did not 



/,//(• auti Chararlcr of Preston />'. Plumb. 177 

rcqiiiic tlir ^ilt (pf iinipliccy to know tliiil the Iiiiliiiiis as well 
iis the hiitl'aloes must disa])iicar. Tlicy bad no nowspaiicTs to 
liciald their wrongs, and any attcnijit to protect their own 
rijilits would proclaim tliein enemies totlie wliite man— liosf lie, 
<^'ruel sava.ufs. When a thousand s(iiiatters sei/e.d ujpon land 
.solemnly guaranteed as indjan land, the cliiefs entered a dig 
nified protest, the AttorueyCeueral decided in favor of tlie 
Indians, but neitJier tlie President nor the Army were power- 
ful enough to redeem the plighted faith of the TTuited States. 
With hereditary stoicism and pathetic calmness the red man 
saw the buftaloes killed, his land overrun l)y ties])assers, his 
rights destroyed. 

The national breach of faith with the Indians was little 
thought of by the restless and energetic jpioueers who carried 
civilization beyond the Missouri River. They came to stay 
they came to make homes, to build up a new State; they came 
from the South, to avail themselves of the privilege secured 
to them by the rejteal of the Missouri comproiidse, and from 
the Xorth to proclaim freedom on the rostrum an<l to secure it 
at the ballot box. The contest did not stop there. Foi- twelve 
years, until the very end of the civil war, Kansas was "Bleed 
ing Kansas," the theater of turmoil and bloody strife, of pvivate 
and i)ublic war. 

Conspicuous among the young men from the North who took 
part in the settlement of Kansas was Pkestiin B. Pltmi!. 
He arrived at Toi>eka in October, IS.5r., and spent the winter 
at Lawrence. In March, 1857, his name stands first am( .ng the 
little baud who essayed to build a city on the l)anks of the 
Neosho. He e.stablished the i:mporia News, and its first 
number was issued June (1, 1857. He had not yet been eight 
months in the Territory and was not yet 20 years old. 

It was at this period that I first became acquainted with 
Preston B. Plfmb, a tall, earnest, energetic young man, full 
of enterprising jilans for Emporia and for Kansas. 
S. Mis. L'l's 12 



178 Address of Mr. Post, of Illinois^ on the 

Kansas was tlu'ii a limail txpaiisc df waviiifj; {;rass, dotted 
here and tluMi- with an cnibiyu villaj^e. No railroad ap- 
iniiaclifd its hoidi'is; tin- Missonri IJivcr I'uinishi'd tlie only 
I'ac'ilitios lor t'reiglit transinutatiuii witli the Stati's, while ox 
teams were emidoyed lor the interior. 

I".iii|iiiria was a strag';;Iin.ir tVunfier settlement; norlli and 
south of it for a thousand miles Indians and buti'aloes oi inijied 
the eoiuitry, while to the west, nearly SOU miles distant, was 
the ancient Spanish <ivilization at Santa Fe. 

Nevertheless, at Emporia the clear eye of youth and hope 
saw a future citj', and thirty four years thereafter, toward the 
tlourishing city of Emporia, with its radiating raikoads and all 
the accompaniments of prosperity, toward that city which he 
had t'linnded, nourished, and IdVid, we bore the lifeless body 
of Senator PLtrMB, while uidted in sympathy and lamentutioii 
were fifteen hundred thousand people, citizens of Kansas. 

Ad antra pvr asprra — to the stars throuj;h ditliculties — tells 
tiie st<iry of liis life. It is tlie motto of his State. It should be 
inserilicd upon his tomb. 

Tiie early life of Senator Pi.t'MH, his precocious eonnection 
with ])ublic aflairs, the intensity of popular feeling then exist- 
ing \vith reference to those aflfairs, the years of frontier danger, 
of incessant vigilaiKc dI' niHlaunlnl rllnrt. were the discipline 
which made him a luoadiiiiiided, well-balanced, aggressive 
leader of men, lie sought the ai)probati()n of his own mind 
and conscience and commanded the respect even of those who 
did not agree Mith him. 

To bring into clear relief his early training 1 have reviewed 
but four years of his active life, years while he was yet a minor. 
Others have sketched his biogra]ihy after attaining his ma- 
jority, how he studi(<l law, was adiuiittd Id tlie bar, served lu 
the State legislature, entered the Inited States military serv- 
ice as second lieutenant, was promoted to captain, major, and 



Lift' and Character of I'rcsli)ii A". /'Iiii)//>. \1\\ 

lieutenant coldncl, a.^aiii sei\ciliii the State lei^islat lire, ami 
at tlie a.ue iit K) was elected a Seiiatiir cit the ('iiited »States. 
From that time til liis (loath his acts svei-e ()|it^ii to th(^ iiis])ee- 
tioii oftlie iiatiim and are indelibly emblazoued on the history 
of our country. 

Senator Tn IMI! liel[)ed to create the State ol' Kansas. He 
gave zealous clibrt to her devehipmeut; in time of war as a 
soldier he coutributed to her martial glory, and in time of 
peace as a statesman he supported and i)rotected her intere.sts 
and those of the whole nation. He was the untiring servant 
of the State he represented. 

Senator Plumb was a partisan in its best sense, not a hanger- 
on. and blind follower of a party, but one who dared advocate 
])rinei]iles without hesitation or equivocation, trusting that his 
party would sometime be convinced and adopt them. He has 
been criticised because he always gave his x'arty an eariu'st 
and unwavering supjiort in the forum of the people, even 
though he had failed to secure the sup]iorf of that party to the 
measures he advocated. 

The enterprising soldier who discovers in his defensive line 
a weak position and suggests that it be strengthened, or who 
sees an opponent's mistake and vainly urges an assault, does 
not desert to the enemy because his comrades are shortsighted. 
So in political strife time will demonstrati^ who is right; the 
main body may progress slowly; a leadi'r may be in advance, 
but he is never there in the character of a traitor. A ])artisan 
may sincerely believe in a jirineiple ami yet be loyal to a party 
which has not yet adopted it. 

The real party leaders are not those wiio wait for the i)lat- 
form in order to know their own ojiinions. These nuxy be suc- 
cessful iioliticians, " safe men to follow," for they travel a road 
already marked out and fenced in. Some one nuist advance, 
discover pitfalls, clear away obstacles, and blaze the unknown 
way. 



ISO .Iddress of Mr. Voiiiiinns, of Michigan, on the 

111 a progressive ])arty simie iiiiisi ImiMIv state tlieii- comic- 
tiixis ami submit foi- pojmlai' jiulyiiu-ut tin- ineasiires in which 
tliey believe. 

Senatiir I'H'MI! was true to iiis coiaietions and hilmied witli 
tireless energy tbi' iiis iieii]ilf ami his eoiintiA . Tliose wlio 
aieoinjiaiiied the I'lineial train witnessed scout's the,\ will ne\ei- 
fiirgel. The people irowded the lailway stations along the 
route, tiiey thi'onged to the eapital, where for a time his liody 
lay in state, and colleeted at Emporia with every maiiit'esta- 
tion of regard. 

The religions services at the residence of the stricken fatnily 
and at the church, and the beautiful cereiiM>iiial at the ceme- 
tery, conducted by his comrades of the Grand Army of the 
Kcpiiblic. were made doubly iiiii)r(ssi\ c l)y the syini)athetic 
sorrow of the multitude. 

A people bowed down with grief at a great and sudden 
<-alaniity, a State in mourning for a loved Senator, was a tribute 
which recalled these pathetic words nf Motley, referring to the 
death of William of ( )range : •' As long as he lived he was the 
guiding star of a whole brave nation, and when he died little 
children cried in the streets." 



ADDRESS OF MR. YOUMANS, OF MICHIGAN. 

-Mr. YoiTMANS. y\\-. Speaker, it is oidy of the public life and 
character of Senator I'li'Mij I can speak. I had not the honor 
of his acipiaintance. The Fifty-second Congress had hardly 
convened before the shadow of deal li ilarkciicd these halls. It 
was my privilege, however, as a member of the select com- 
mittee of the House, to follow his remains to their tiiial resting 
]>lace. 

It is not my object, Mr. Speaker, to speak any panegyric on 
his life; his life is his ]ianegyrie — is on a sure t'oundation and 



Life aiiii Cliaracter of Presloit li. J'/iiii/h. 181 

is a i);irl (il' tlic liisloix of tlie l.'^imlilii-. Always a st iirdy ilc- 
feiidt'i- of coiistitiitioual ii.i;lits; an iHiiKnablf tlioiiuli iHit a 
lilinil partisan; at times assuininj;- iii(lcpt'ii(iciit jtolitical aclimi, 
then (lefeiidinu- siudi action with vigor and almost^ luateh- 
k'ss ehi(iuence. 

Faults, (h)nl>th-ss, he had: mistakes he mi-ht have made; 
hut always relyinj;- on his honesty, lirniness, a>nd eaiitions 
judiiineiit, always i>ieseiving his sineerit> of purjiose and in- 
teiivity of (diaraeter. nisresolutedetermmation gave him that 
force we denominate cliaracter. Like all who have olitained 
j)rominent stations and assumed the responsibilities of puhlic. 
life, it was liis lot at tim(«s, however pure his purpose, however 
good the cause he followt'd, to he misunderstood and his motives 
<iuesti()ned. The storm might rage and the night be dark, yet 
he followed the straight path unerringly; his sure judgment 
and persuasive oratory turned aside the obstacles besetting 
his path. Others have outlined the incidents of his career, 
lait perhaps it is worth our while to dwell for a moment on the 
lesson it teaches. Very much of the best portions of our 
country's history is the record of th<' achievements of men who, 
in their youth, withcmt the advantage of fortune, have written 
their names high on the obelisk of fame. 

The list, though long, is familiar to every schoolboy; so, too, 
are their persuasiv(^elo(luence and 111 ightyachievenu'iits. These, 
pages of history speak silver-toned encoiiiagemeiit to young 
men, saying to them, " Onward, my young and strong brothers, 
to the great batth' Held of life. Let not disaii|ioiiitnient and 
trials damp your ar(h)r; let no temi>tations divert you from 
truth and right. On every side great hearts will be in sympa- 
thy, and strong hands linked in with yours, and the god of 
battles will not suffer you to fail." 

Mr. Speaker, another voice — 

Is sill-lit in till' rmmcil liall 
Fort'ver. 



1S2 At/i/nss of Mr. Cant tit, of K'cutitck\\ on the 

Aiioilici- ■• link' j;lc:iiii ol' time hciwccii two eternities" Las 
been extingiuslu'il. Ilow loiiy will it be ere we — 

ShuU lea\ (^ our 
Mirlli auil our niiiiloynu'iits. :iuil shall oouie 
Anil niaki' our licil with him ? 

And when time shall ])eni> iimre tm- us. may we depart "like 
one eoiit inning a jmirni'y from an inn, imt as one leaving home." 

The t'rei|neney of these sad sessions brinjxs the admonitions 
of mortality home to lis, and when we '-shall take our eham- 
her.s — 

In the silent halls of death,'' 

may it be said <>f us, >' He has foiio-lit the jrood tifjht. he has 
kept the faith." 



Address of Mr. Caruth, of Kentucky. 

Mr. Carutii. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak the la.st words 
whieh will be said in this lenfislative Hall in commemoration 
of the life and i)ul)li(; serviees of this distiuKuislied Senator, 
whose memory we thistlay lament; and I .sjjeak with i)rofoiind 
.sorrow of the loss our eonntry has su.staiued. 

It was not my jmrpose Mr. Speaker, to lift my voice on this 
occasion, althont;li there were ties of friendship which boiuid 
tlie distinjiiiished dead and myself tojrethi-r. N\V' lived at the 
same home in Wasliinjjton; we ate our meals atthe same table; 
our wives were friends and associates, and I s'I'P^^' t" b>ve and 
t-o lioiior the distinf,'nished I'kkston B. IMami!. 

I believe thai his careei- has (bine as much as that of any 
man in Amciiea to sliow the i;ieat streii.utii of onr institntions 
and the possibility foi' lire haml)lest t<) {jjrow lo greatness. It 
has been said of us with |)ride, in this broad land of ours, 
'•eviTV man is by liirth a princte of the blood and a peer of the 
realm:" and from the liumble beginning ofa printer's boy. 



Life and Charadcr of Prcstoii B. Phinib. 1S.1 

st('i> by slc|>, ill tlic ranks of joiirnalisiii, in I lie ranlvs (if I lie 

Ainiy, and in flic Icjiislative hall. I'lM'.S'ldN I'.. IM,r-\ii! woikiil 

his way until lie stood second in (illicc lo llic I'lcsidcnl of llic 

T^nitcd States. So l(i\e<l, so disi inj;iiislied, and so lidnnred 

was he that the yreat people of the State of Kansas, by a nnan- 

inioiis voice, for the third time elected him Tainted States Sen 

ator. In thatoftice, how well and how faithfnlly he dischaiyed 

his duties tlie reccu'ds of his life's story will tell. Bold, free, 

and inde])endent in his position and opinion, nexcr did he — 

CriKik the jirt-'Suaut liiiini'S of tin; kiici' 
Where thrift may follow fawning. 

None loved truth more than he. Wherever error lilted its 
head, from whatever side, the stalwart arm of Preston B. 
Plt'mb was first to strike It down. A lover of his country's 
institutions, he was always faithful. For the sanctity of the 
Constitution of the Eepublic, his voice would ever be lifted 
against any effort to ignore the pi'ovisions of that sacred in- 
strument or to abridge the rights of the American iieojile; and 
when he died there died a patriot. 

He was a nuxn who cotild rise above party whenever occasion 
recpiired; a man who could be true to party when his party 
was true to itself. 

Mr. Speaker, if you will go with me to yonder lil)rary and 
examiiie the record of the Congresses in which he held mem- 
bership you will find that there was no more zealous, no more 
indefatigable, no more laborious member of the Federal Con- 
grcssthan Preston B. Petimb. Well may thepeopleof Kansas 
regret his loss. 1 have sometimes thought that there were two 
men who stood side by side in the Senate of the United 
States: one was the Senator from my own State, Mr. Beck, 
stricken down by the sudden and relentless hand of death, the 
other was Preston B. Plumb, twin workers in the cause of 
their country, with a zeal that was untiring and an industry 
that never flagged. 



184 Address of Mr. Cariit/i, of Koitticky. 

When I first caiiic ti> Wiisliiiiutnii and talked with the dis- 
tiii^uislird Senator t'roni Kentucky about his eolh-agues ujion 
tluit th)or he tohl nu- that one of the yreatest-braiued men in 
that Chamber, one of the greatest statesmen in Ameriea. was 
PkkstoN B. Pltmb: and from tliat remark of his to me I was 
U'd to wateh the career of Senator I'UMB, and learned to ad- 
mire his zeal, his ability, and his integrity, as 1 did his ])atriotic 
love of our eountry and its institutions. 

I can nut add any word to what has been .said here to-day 
to his memory; but deeply euj^raveu in the hearts of the Amer- 
ican i)eople will ever remain the niemorj- of the claim to fame, 
of the service of Kansas's jrreat dead, killed by relentless 
death in the hour and in the very heifilit and strength of his 
noble manhood. 

Mr. FiNSTON. Mr. Speaker, 1 move the adoption of the res- 
olutions. 

The Speakek i>ro tempore (Mr. Fayuter iu the chaii). Tiie 
question is on the adoption of the resolutions. 

The resolutions were unanimously agreed to. 

Accordingly (at 3 o'clock and U minutes) the House adjourned. 









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